2014 Peugeot 308 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 77,319 MOT tests, the 2014 Peugeot 308 recorded a 78.8% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 17.5% of the time, so this is 3.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.5%) and suspension (7.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and track rod end — tread depth alone was recorded 3,487 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.6% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.2pp more often than petrol ones (21.7% vs 18.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 6,531 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.8% | 6,055 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.9% | 5,334 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.7% | 3,643 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.5% | 2,717 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 2,617 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 3,487 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,979 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 2,960 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2,768 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 2,529 |
| 6 | Joints | 2,384 |
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 | 29.1% | 22,506 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.7% | 17,584 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.5% | 9,674 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 8,344 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.6% | 6,651 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 2,513 |
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 | 2,779 | 10.7% |
| 30-60k | 20,648 | 17.0% |
| 60-90k | 29,202 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 16,640 | 24.7% |
| 120-150k | 5,807 | 25.7% |
| 150k+ | 2,231 | 25.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 64,381 | 21.7% |
| Petrol | 12,938 | 18.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,369 | 16.6% |
| 2022 | 15,480 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 15,647 | 21.5% |
| 2024 | 15,691 | 24.1% |
| 2025 | 15,132 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 2014 308
On a 2014 308, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.8% 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.
- Tyres (6.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2014 Peugeot 308s pass their MOT?
78.8% of the 77,319 2014 Peugeot 308 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Peugeot 308?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.5% of tests, followed by suspension (7.8%).
Does the 2014 308 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.7% in the 0-30k band to 25.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 77,319 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.