2012 Peugeot 308 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 67,673 MOT tests, the 2012 Peugeot 308 recorded a 76.4% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 21.2% of the time, so this is 2.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.5% of all tests — 4.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, joints and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 4,566 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.3% versus 14.0%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.8pp more often than petrol ones (23.9% vs 22.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 30.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 9,111 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.3% | 6,313 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.7% | 5,191 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.3% | 4,272 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 3,550 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 3,343 |
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 | 4,566 |
| 2 | Joints | 3,317 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,813 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 2,712 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 2,678 |
| 6 | Washers | 2,255 |
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 | 30.6% | 20,675 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.4% | 18,551 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.3% | 13,061 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.4% | 6,378 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 6,047 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 3,609 |
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 | 1,253 | 14.0% |
| 30-60k | 11,423 | 18.4% |
| 60-90k | 23,325 | 22.6% |
| 90-120k | 19,477 | 25.9% |
| 120-150k | 8,505 | 27.4% |
| 150k+ | 3,617 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 58,927 | 23.9% |
| Petrol | 8,741 | 22.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,145 | 20.4% |
| 2022 | 14,201 | 21.7% |
| 2023 | 14,012 | 24.0% |
| 2024 | 13,206 | 25.7% |
| 2025 | 12,109 | 27.0% |
What to check before buying a 2012 308
On a 2012 308, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.3% 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 (7.7% 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 2012 Peugeot 308s pass their MOT?
76.4% of the 67,673 2012 Peugeot 308 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Peugeot 308?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by suspension (9.3%).
Does the 2012 308 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.0% in the 0-30k band to 29.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 67,673 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.