2001 Peugeot 307 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Peugeot 307 passed 68.3% of its 3,639 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.9% of the time, so this is 3.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 28.1% of tests against 15.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 523 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.4% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 31.0% of the time against 32.1% for petrol.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 28.1% | 1,023 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.6% | 569 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 386 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.1% | 367 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.4% | 305 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 185 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 523 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 329 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 317 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 316 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 205 |
| 6 | Joints | 199 |
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 | 39.8% | 1,448 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.7% | 1,191 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.8% | 1,119 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 26.4% | 962 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.0% | 691 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.6% | 675 |
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 | 52 | 21.1% |
| 30-60k | 444 | 23.9% |
| 60-90k | 914 | 30.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,028 | 33.6% |
| 120-150k | 624 | 33.5% |
| 150k+ | 577 | 35.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,422 | 32.1% |
| Diesel | 1,217 | 31.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,261 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 903 | 31.2% |
| 2023 | 673 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 456 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 346 | 34.1% |
What to check before buying a 2001 307
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 28.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (28.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.6% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2001 Peugeot 307s pass their MOT?
68.3% of the 3,639 2001 Peugeot 307 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Peugeot 307?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 28.1% of tests, followed by suspension (15.6%).
Does the 2001 307 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.1% in the 0-30k band to 35.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,639 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.