2013 Peugeot 308 — MOT failures & pass rate
68,729 MOT tests on the 2013 Peugeot 308 are in this dataset, and 76.1% of them passed. That is 4.5 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests against 10.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and joints — headlamp aim alone was recorded 5,163 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.3% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.3% fail against 24.1% for diesel, a 1.8-point gap across 68,729 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 9,934 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.4% | 7,184 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.6% | 4,543 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.3% | 4,321 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 3,751 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 2,876 |
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 | 5,163 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 4,688 |
| 3 | Joints | 3,858 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 3,141 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,969 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 2,626 |
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 | 29.6% | 20,360 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.7% | 18,351 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.1% | 11,048 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 6,338 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.7% | 5,980 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 2,559 |
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 | 2,093 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 15,249 | 19.3% |
| 60-90k | 25,294 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 16,572 | 26.8% |
| 120-150k | 6,323 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 3,171 | 30.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 63,399 | 24.1% |
| Petrol | 5,330 | 22.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,900 | 20.0% |
| 2022 | 14,072 | 22.3% |
| 2023 | 14,074 | 24.7% |
| 2024 | 13,639 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 13,044 | 27.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 308
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.4% 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 (6.6% 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 2013 Peugeot 308s pass their MOT?
76.1% of the 68,729 2013 Peugeot 308 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Peugeot 308?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by suspension (10.4%).
Does the 2013 308 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 68,729 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.