2010 Peugeot 308 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Peugeot 308 passed 72.6% of its 90,228 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.3 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.2% of all tests — 4.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 6,340 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.9% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.8pp more often than petrol ones (28.1% vs 26.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 31.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 14,597 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.8% | 10,623 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 7,198 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.3% | 5,693 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 5,619 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 5,307 |
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 | 6,340 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 5,900 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 4,766 |
| 4 | Joints | 4,735 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 4,320 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 3,724 |
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 | 31.2% | 28,127 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.0% | 27,068 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.0% | 18,931 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.3% | 15,592 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 13,003 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.7% | 9,647 |
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 | 1,164 | 16.2% |
| 30-60k | 11,599 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 29,497 | 26.2% |
| 90-120k | 26,993 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 14,226 | 31.1% |
| 150k+ | 6,639 | 31.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 55,910 | 28.1% |
| Petrol | 34,318 | 26.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,482 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 20,191 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 18,687 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 16,310 | 28.7% |
| 2025 | 13,558 | 28.8% |
What to check before buying a 2010 308
On a 2010 308, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.2% 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 (8.0% 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 2010 Peugeot 308s pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 90,228 2010 Peugeot 308 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Peugeot 308?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.2% of tests, followed by suspension (11.8%).
Does the 2010 308 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.2% in the 0-30k band to 31.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 90,228 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.