1998 Peugeot 306 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Peugeot 306 passed 72.2% of its 4,303 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 27.0%, so the 1998 306 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (13.0%) and lighting & signalling (12.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and wipers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 331 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.1% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 27.8% of the time against 27.9% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 34.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 13.0% | 559 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 541 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.2% | 437 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 318 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 297 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.7% | 286 |
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 | 331 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 256 |
| 3 | Wipers | 194 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 193 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 176 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 175 |
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 | 34.4% | 1,478 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.6% | 1,101 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 24.7% | 1,062 |
| 4 | Tyres | 22.5% | 968 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.4% | 748 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.1% | 606 |
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 | 98 | 19.4% |
| 30-60k | 458 | 25.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,061 | 27.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,059 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 839 | 29.7% |
| 150k+ | 753 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,375 | 27.8% |
| Diesel | 1,928 | 27.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,266 | 28.4% |
| 2022 | 1,063 | 28.6% |
| 2023 | 802 | 26.8% |
| 2024 | 648 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 524 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a 1998 306
On a 1998 306, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (13.0% 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 (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.2% 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 1998 Peugeot 306s pass their MOT?
72.2% of the 4,303 1998 Peugeot 306 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Peugeot 306?
Brakes, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.6%).
Does the 1998 306 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.4% in the 0-30k band to 30.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,303 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.