1999 Peugeot 306 — MOT failures & pass rate
6,124 MOT tests on the 1999 Peugeot 306 are in this dataset, and 70.4% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.4% of the time, so this is 2.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (14.4%) and lighting & signalling (12.7%) 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 headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 704 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 22.4% in the 0-30k band and 31.2% in the 150k+ band, a 8.8-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 29.4% of the time against 29.9% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.4% | 880 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 776 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.3% | 689 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 564 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 554 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.8% | 354 |
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 | 704 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 349 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 291 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 264 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 256 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 249 |
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 | 34.8% | 2,133 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.6% | 1,631 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.9% | 1,463 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.5% | 1,315 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.0% | 1,165 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.2% | 929 |
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 | 22.4% |
| 30-60k | 720 | 26.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,525 | 27.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,491 | 31.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,166 | 31.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,063 | 31.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,920 | 29.4% |
| Diesel | 2,204 | 29.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,787 | 30.1% |
| 2022 | 1,448 | 28.9% |
| 2023 | 1,146 | 29.9% |
| 2024 | 957 | 30.2% |
| 2025 | 786 | 28.6% |
What to check before buying a 1999 306
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 14.4% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (14.4% 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 (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.3% 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 1999 Peugeot 306s pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 6,124 1999 Peugeot 306 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Peugeot 306?
Brakes, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.7%).
Does the 1999 306 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.4% in the 0-30k band to 31.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,124 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.