2009 Peugeot 308 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 90,110 MOT tests, the 2009 Peugeot 308 recorded a 70.7% pass rate. That is 4.1 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.3% of all tests — 4.9 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, joints and stop lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 6,155 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.4% in the 0-30k band and 32.3% in the 150k+ band, a 15.9-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.8% of the time against 29.7% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 31.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 15,544 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.4% | 11,138 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 8,104 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.5% | 7,637 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 6,289 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.5% | 5,811 |
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 | 6,155 |
| 2 | Joints | 5,927 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 5,621 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 5,457 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 5,009 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 4,332 |
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 | 31.6% | 28,522 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.1% | 28,024 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.5% | 22,099 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.4% | 14,750 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 14,101 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.4% | 10,268 |
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 | 942 | 16.4% |
| 30-60k | 10,088 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 27,671 | 28.4% |
| 90-120k | 27,572 | 30.7% |
| 120-150k | 15,596 | 32.0% |
| 150k+ | 8,141 | 32.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 54,780 | 29.7% |
| Petrol | 35,330 | 28.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,632 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 21,072 | 28.6% |
| 2023 | 18,404 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 15,160 | 30.3% |
| 2025 | 11,842 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 308
On a 2009 308, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.4% 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.
- 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 308s pass their MOT?
70.7% of the 90,110 2009 Peugeot 308 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Peugeot 308?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by suspension (12.4%).
Does the 2009 308 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 90,110 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.