2008 Peugeot 308 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 70,854 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Peugeot 308, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 69.3% was below the average for small family cars of a similar age (73.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 33.3% in the 150k+ group versus 19.2% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 12,341 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.6% | 9,658 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.3% | 7,321 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 6,020 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.4% | 5,936 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.8% | 4,784 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 5,587 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 5,077 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 4,875 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 4,756 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 4,058 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 3,946 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 32.2% | 22,822 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.9% | 22,594 |
| 3 | Suspension | 27.0% | 19,110 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.3% | 15,106 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 11,872 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.3% | 7,975 |
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 | 464 | 19.2% |
| 30-60k | 6,741 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 21,262 | 29.3% |
| 90-120k | 22,267 | 32.3% |
| 120-150k | 13,324 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 6,739 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 40,087 | 31.2% |
| Petrol | 30,767 | 30.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,959 | 30.4% |
| 2022 | 17,419 | 30.5% |
| 2023 | 13,952 | 30.9% |
| 2024 | 10,757 | 31.3% |
| 2025 | 7,767 | 31.0% |
What to check before buying a 2008 308
Before buying a 2008 Peugeot 308, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 17.4% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (17.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.6% 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.
- Brakes (10.3% 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 2008 Peugeot 308s pass their MOT?
69.3% of the 70,854 2008 Peugeot 308 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Peugeot 308?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.4% of tests, followed by suspension (13.6%).
Does the 2008 308 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.2% in the 0-30k band to 33.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 70,854 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.