Peugeot 307 MOT pass rate & common failures
279,283 MOT tests on the Peugeot 307 (2001–2023) give it a 69.1% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.4% of the time, so this is 3.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
Best and worst 307 years
Ranked across 307 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
The strongest year on this record is 2009 (71.2% pass rate); the weakest is 2004 (67.8%). Older cars carry more of the difference than the average implies.
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 22.1% of all tests — 6.8 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and headlamp — position lamp alone was recorded 26,318 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.6% in the 0-30k band and 35.2% in the 150k+ band, a 17.5-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.1pp more often than petrol ones (32.2% vs 30.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 33.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every 307 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3,639 | 68.3% | 31.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 15,079 | 68.3% | 31.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 24,587 | 68.0% | 32.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 36,220 | 67.8% | 32.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 45,853 | 68.5% | 31.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 65,723 | 69.7% | 30.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 69,285 | 69.6% | 30.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 15,897 | 70.9% | 29.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 2,630 | 71.2% | 28.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 162 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 55 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Brakes |
| 2012 | 38 | 81.6% | 18.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 22.1% | 61,631 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.2% | 42,553 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.6% | 26,814 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 26,517 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.2% | 17,377 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.9% | 16,390 |
| 7 | Visibility | 5.7% | 15,849 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 13,128 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 26,318 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 20,346 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 17,889 |
| 4 | Joints | 16,364 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 15,457 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 13,558 |
| 7 | Track rod end | 11,704 |
| 8 | Tread depth | 11,136 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.3% | 93,125 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.3% | 93,089 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.0% | 86,601 |
| 4 | Other defects | 24.5% | 68,532 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 21.7% | 60,600 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.6% | 43,519 |
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 | 2,564 | 17.6% |
| 30-60k | 28,877 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 79,494 | 29.0% |
| 90-120k | 86,463 | 32.3% |
| 120-150k | 52,036 | 34.0% |
| 150k+ | 29,612 | 35.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 174,235 | 30.1% |
| Diesel | 105,043 | 32.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 88,736 | 31.0% |
| 2022 | 68,203 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 53,137 | 30.9% |
| 2024 | 40,004 | 31.1% |
| 2025 | 29,203 | 31.0% |
What to check before buying a Peugeot 307
- Lighting & signalling (22.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.2% 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.
- Brakes (9.6% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Peugeot 307?
69.1% of the 279,283 Peugeot 307 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 30.9% fail rate, across model years 2001–2023.
What does the Peugeot 307 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.1% of tests, then suspension (15.2%).
Which 307 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2009 has the best pass rate at 71.2% and 2004 the weakest at 67.8%, from 2,630 and 36,220 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect 307 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 17.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 35.2% for 150k+, a 17.5-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel 307 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 30.1% of the time against 32.2% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 279,283 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.