2000 Peugeot 306 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,990 MOT tests, the 2000 Peugeot 306 recorded a 71.4% pass rate. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (14.1%) 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, rbt (sp) and exhaust system — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 922 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.6% versus 24.0%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.6% of the time against 28.7% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.2% in 2021 to 27.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.1% | 1,265 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 1,131 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.3% | 930 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.1% | 819 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.7% | 782 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.5% | 581 |
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 | 922 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 564 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 396 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 389 |
| 5 | Wipers | 379 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 373 |
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 | 38.1% | 3,428 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.5% | 2,470 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.7% | 2,306 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.5% | 1,664 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.6% | 1,580 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.4% | 1,293 |
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 | 146 | 24.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,023 | 23.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,130 | 26.8% |
| 90-120k | 2,388 | 29.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,605 | 31.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,605 | 30.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,631 | 28.6% |
| Diesel | 3,359 | 28.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,686 | 29.2% |
| 2022 | 2,140 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 1,637 | 27.4% |
| 2024 | 1,397 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 1,130 | 27.3% |
What to check before buying a 2000 306
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 14.1% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (14.1% 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 (10.3% 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 2000 Peugeot 306s pass their MOT?
71.4% of the 8,990 2000 Peugeot 306 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Peugeot 306?
Brakes, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.6%).
Does the 2000 306 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.0% in the 0-30k band to 30.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,990 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.