2009 Peugeot 307 — MOT failures & pass rate
2,630 MOT tests on the 2009 Peugeot 307 are in this dataset, and 71.2% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (25.2% fail rate), the 2009 307 comes out 3.6pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.1% of tests against 11.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 197 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.4% versus 17.6%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.8% fail against 29.5% for diesel, a 1.8-point gap across 2,630 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 475 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.8% | 309 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 237 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.5% | 170 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 167 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.3% | 139 |
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 | 197 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 172 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 148 |
| 4 | Joints | 122 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 114 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 105 |
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 | 33.8% | 888 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.7% | 782 |
| 3 | Suspension | 27.8% | 732 |
| 4 | Other defects | 21.4% | 562 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 439 |
| 6 | Steering | 10.4% | 274 |
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 | 51 | 17.6% |
| 30-60k | 405 | 25.9% |
| 60-90k | 931 | 27.1% |
| 90-120k | 821 | 31.2% |
| 120-150k | 281 | 31.7% |
| 150k+ | 139 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,554 | 29.5% |
| Petrol | 1,076 | 27.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 700 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 596 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 524 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 464 | 31.3% |
| 2025 | 346 | 31.8% |
What to check before buying a 2009 307
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.8% 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 (9.0% 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
How many 2009 Peugeot 307s pass their MOT?
71.2% of the 2,630 2009 Peugeot 307 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Peugeot 307?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.1% of tests, followed by suspension (11.8%).
Does the 2009 307 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.6% in the 0-30k band to 32.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,630 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.