1997 Peugeot 306 — MOT failures & pass rate
2,937 MOT tests on the 1997 Peugeot 306 are in this dataset, and 71.3% of them passed. That is 2.2 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.5%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 15.3% of tests against 12.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and rbt (sp) — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 239 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1997 306 fails 26.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 30.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.9 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 28.4% of the time against 28.9% for petrol.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.1% in 2021 to 25.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.3% | 448 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 354 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.8% | 317 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 217 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.3% | 215 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 214 |
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 | 239 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 227 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 165 |
| 4 | Wipers | 145 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 131 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 125 |
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 | 32.5% | 955 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.7% | 842 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 23.7% | 696 |
| 4 | Tyres | 23.3% | 684 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.9% | 497 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 354 |
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 | 42 | 26.2% |
| 30-60k | 352 | 27.3% |
| 60-90k | 819 | 26.6% |
| 90-120k | 742 | 30.9% |
| 120-150k | 485 | 28.4% |
| 150k+ | 485 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,648 | 28.9% |
| Diesel | 1,289 | 28.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 868 | 31.1% |
| 2022 | 717 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 550 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 443 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 359 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 1997 306
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 15.3% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (15.3% 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 (12.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.8% 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
How many 1997 Peugeot 306s pass their MOT?
71.3% of the 2,937 1997 Peugeot 306 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Peugeot 306?
Brakes, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.0%).
Does the 1997 306 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.2% in the 0-30k band to 30.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,937 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.