2002 Peugeot 306 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Peugeot 306 passed 73.0% of its 1,372 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 28.0% of the time, so this is 1.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (14.1%) 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 wipers, service brake performance and rbt (sp) — wipers alone was recorded 79 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2002 306 fails 31.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 34.2% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.9 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 24.7% fail against 29.7% for diesel, a 5.0-point gap across 1,372 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.5% in 2021 to 25.0% 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% | 193 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 174 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.4% | 143 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.1% | 98 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 96 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 75 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 79 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 76 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 74 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 66 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 60 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 56 |
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 | 39.8% | 546 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.0% | 316 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.5% | 309 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.1% | 276 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.7% | 243 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 199 |
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 | 32 | 31.3% |
| 30-60k | 139 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 353 | 22.7% |
| 90-120k | 290 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 247 | 27.9% |
| 150k+ | 284 | 34.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 736 | 24.7% |
| Diesel | 636 | 29.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 407 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 331 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 274 | 27.7% |
| 2024 | 200 | 27.0% |
| 2025 | 160 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 2002 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 (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.4% 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 2002 Peugeot 306s pass their MOT?
73.0% of the 1,372 2002 Peugeot 306 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Peugeot 306?
Brakes, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.7%).
Does the 2002 306 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.3% in the 0-30k band to 34.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,372 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.