2016 Peugeot 308 — MOT failures & pass rate
88,614 MOT tests on the 2016 Peugeot 308 are in this dataset, and 82.4% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 13.7% of the time, so this is 3.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.0%) and lighting & signalling (5.9%) 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 brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 3,248 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.2% versus 9.3%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.3pp more often than petrol ones (18.6% vs 15.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.0% | 5,286 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 5,231 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.8% | 5,095 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.9% | 3,438 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 2,772 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.3% | 1,996 |
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 | 3,248 |
| 2 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2,900 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 2,752 |
| 4 | Joints | 2,428 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,059 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 1,928 |
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 | 26.3% | 23,265 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.8% | 19,270 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.8% | 11,313 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 7,189 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.7% | 6,840 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 3,949 |
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 | 8,424 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 35,598 | 15.1% |
| 60-90k | 28,523 | 20.6% |
| 90-120k | 10,999 | 22.3% |
| 120-150k | 3,487 | 21.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,560 | 23.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 63,299 | 18.6% |
| Petrol | 25,315 | 15.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,277 | 13.5% |
| 2022 | 17,612 | 15.3% |
| 2023 | 17,947 | 18.1% |
| 2024 | 17,965 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 17,813 | 21.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 308
On a 2016 308, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.8% 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.
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 2016 Peugeot 308s pass their MOT?
82.4% of the 88,614 2016 Peugeot 308 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Peugeot 308?
Tyres, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.9%).
Does the 2016 308 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 23.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 88,614 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.