2002 Peugeot 307 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 15,079 MOT tests, the 2002 Peugeot 307 recorded a 68.3% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), the 2002 307 comes out 3.6pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 24.9% of all tests — 8.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 1,491 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.9% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 31.3% of the time against 32.4% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 38.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 24.9% | 3,753 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.4% | 2,474 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 1,601 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.9% | 1,490 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.0% | 1,213 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.3% | 807 |
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 | 1,491 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,333 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,172 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 792 |
| 5 | Washers | 729 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 727 |
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 | 38.4% | 5,786 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.1% | 4,845 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.2% | 4,550 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 3,007 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.9% | 2,999 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 17.9% | 2,707 |
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 | 129 | 25.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,546 | 25.7% |
| 60-90k | 3,854 | 29.6% |
| 90-120k | 4,193 | 32.3% |
| 120-150k | 3,101 | 34.4% |
| 150k+ | 2,245 | 34.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 9,291 | 31.3% |
| Diesel | 5,788 | 32.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,225 | 32.7% |
| 2022 | 3,724 | 31.4% |
| 2023 | 2,725 | 30.3% |
| 2024 | 2,004 | 31.3% |
| 2025 | 1,401 | 32.0% |
What to check before buying a 2002 307
On a 2002 307, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 24.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (24.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.4% 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.
- 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 2002 Peugeot 307s pass their MOT?
68.3% of the 15,079 2002 Peugeot 307 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Peugeot 307?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.9% of tests, followed by suspension (16.4%).
Does the 2002 307 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.6% in the 0-30k band to 34.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,079 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.