2003 Peugeot 307 — MOT failures & pass rate
24,587 MOT tests on the 2003 Peugeot 307 are in this dataset, and 68.0% of them passed. That is 3.9 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.9% of tests against 16.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 2,357 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 35.8% versus 18.3%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 31.0% fail against 33.2% for diesel, a 2.2-point gap across 24,587 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.9% in 2021 to 31.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 24.9% | 6,121 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.1% | 3,963 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.4% | 2,806 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.8% | 2,642 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.7% | 1,889 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.8% | 1,431 |
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 | 2,357 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,011 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,625 |
| 4 | Joints | 1,432 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,146 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 1,123 |
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 | 37.9% | 9,315 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.0% | 8,355 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.3% | 7,458 |
| 4 | Other defects | 23.9% | 5,867 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 20.7% | 5,088 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 17.3% | 4,259 |
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 | 246 | 18.3% |
| 30-60k | 2,062 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 5,653 | 29.1% |
| 90-120k | 7,041 | 32.4% |
| 120-150k | 5,268 | 34.7% |
| 150k+ | 4,286 | 35.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 14,129 | 31.0% |
| Diesel | 10,458 | 33.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,580 | 32.9% |
| 2022 | 6,025 | 31.8% |
| 2023 | 4,462 | 31.4% |
| 2024 | 3,228 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 2,292 | 31.0% |
What to check before buying a 2003 307
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 24.9% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (16.1% 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 (11.4% 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 2003 Peugeot 307s pass their MOT?
68.0% of the 24,587 2003 Peugeot 307 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Peugeot 307?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.9% of tests, followed by suspension (16.1%).
Does the 2003 307 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.3% in the 0-30k band to 35.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,587 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.