Peugeot 306 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 30 model years and 34,328 tests, the Peugeot 306 passes its MOT 71.6% of the time. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.2% of the time, so this is 1.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (14.2%) and lighting & signalling (12.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, rbt (sp) and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 2,681 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 22.0% in the 0-30k band and 30.9% in the 150k+ band, a 8.9-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.3% of the time against 28.7% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.3% in 2021 to 27.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 306 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 161 | 75.2% | 24.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 554 | 73.8% | 26.2% | Brakes |
| 1995 | 1,128 | 71.7% | 28.3% | Brakes |
| 1996 | 1,578 | 72.4% | 27.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 2,937 | 71.3% | 28.7% | Brakes |
| 1998 | 4,303 | 72.2% | 27.8% | Brakes |
| 1999 | 6,124 | 70.4% | 29.6% | Brakes |
| 2000 | 8,990 | 71.4% | 28.6% | Brakes |
| 2001 | 7,047 | 71.9% | 28.1% | Brakes |
| 2002 | 1,372 | 73.0% | 27.0% | Brakes |
| 2003 | 37 | 64.9% | 35.1% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.2% | 4,891 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 4,414 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.7% | 3,685 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.2% | 2,811 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 2,529 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.6% | 2,265 |
| 7 | Tyres | 4.6% | 1,585 |
| 8 | Steering | 4.6% | 1,584 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 2,681 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 1,980 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 1,894 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,564 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,532 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 1,400 |
| 7 | Washers | 1,244 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 1,212 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 36.4% | 12,506 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.4% | 9,417 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.7% | 8,476 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.7% | 7,454 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.4% | 5,982 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.8% | 4,737 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 605 | 22.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,821 | 23.4% |
| 60-90k | 8,545 | 26.7% |
| 90-120k | 8,832 | 29.5% |
| 120-150k | 6,105 | 30.1% |
| 150k+ | 6,049 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 19,705 | 28.3% |
| Diesel | 14,623 | 28.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,154 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 8,196 | 28.7% |
| 2023 | 6,371 | 27.5% |
| 2024 | 5,292 | 28.5% |
| 2025 | 4,315 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a Peugeot 306
- Brakes (14.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (12.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Peugeot 306?
71.6% of the 34,328 Peugeot 306 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 28.4% fail rate, across model years 1993–2022.
What does the Peugeot 306 most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 14.2% of tests, then lighting & signalling (12.9%).
How much does mileage affect 306 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 22.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 30.9% for 150k+, a 8.9-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel 306 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 28.3% of the time against 28.7% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 34,328 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.