2011 Peugeot 308 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 65,628 MOT tests, the 2011 Peugeot 308 recorded a 75.5% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 22.7% of the time, so this is 1.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.2%) and suspension (11.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and joints — headlamp aim alone was recorded 3,454 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.8% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 23.3% fail against 24.9% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 65,628 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 7,376 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.1% | 7,251 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 5,216 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.3% | 4,136 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.0% | 3,255 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 3,089 |
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 | 3,454 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 3,385 |
| 3 | Joints | 2,890 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,658 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 2,517 |
| 6 | Washers | 2,052 |
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 | 30.8% | 20,184 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.6% | 18,772 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.3% | 14,007 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.1% | 6,613 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 5,483 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 5,285 |
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 | 1,240 | 13.9% |
| 30-60k | 10,301 | 18.1% |
| 60-90k | 22,153 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 18,995 | 26.8% |
| 120-150k | 8,815 | 28.1% |
| 150k+ | 4,012 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 48,059 | 24.9% |
| Petrol | 17,569 | 23.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,428 | 21.5% |
| 2022 | 14,110 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 13,551 | 25.1% |
| 2024 | 12,557 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 10,982 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 308
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.1% 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.
- 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 2011 Peugeot 308s pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 65,628 2011 Peugeot 308 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Peugeot 308?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests, followed by suspension (11.1%).
Does the 2011 308 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.9% in the 0-30k band to 28.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 65,628 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.