2015 Peugeot 308 — MOT failures & pass rate
86,289 MOT tests on the 2015 Peugeot 308 are in this dataset, and 81.6% of them passed. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 15.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.4%) and tyres (6.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, registration plate lamp(s) and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 3,657 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.6% versus 8.6%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 16.3% fail against 19.1% for diesel, a 2.8-point gap across 86,289 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 6,414 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.6% | 5,655 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.9% | 5,124 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.1% | 3,502 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 2,657 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.3% | 2,016 |
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 | 3,657 |
| 2 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 3,082 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,720 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 2,646 |
| 5 | Joints | 2,286 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 2,168 |
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 | 27.9% | 24,083 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.4% | 19,284 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.9% | 10,246 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 9,118 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.4% | 7,218 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 3,710 |
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 | 4,223 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 27,580 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 31,441 | 19.8% |
| 90-120k | 15,613 | 22.6% |
| 120-150k | 5,231 | 22.4% |
| 150k+ | 2,186 | 22.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 66,322 | 19.1% |
| Petrol | 19,967 | 16.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,028 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 17,319 | 16.2% |
| 2023 | 17,525 | 18.8% |
| 2024 | 17,334 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 17,083 | 21.9% |
What to check before buying a 2015 308
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.6% 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.
- Suspension (5.9% 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.
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 2015 Peugeot 308s pass their MOT?
81.6% of the 86,289 2015 Peugeot 308 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Peugeot 308?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by tyres (6.6%).
Does the 2015 308 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 22.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 86,289 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.