2018 Peugeot 308 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 48,980 MOT tests, the 2018 Peugeot 308 recorded an 86.6% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 10.4% of the time, so this is 3.0pp 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 (6.1%) and lighting & signalling (4.9%) 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 brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 2,055 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.7% versus 8.5%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.8pp more often than petrol ones (14.4% vs 12.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.1% | 2,972 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 2,409 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.1% | 1,528 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.6% | 1,296 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 1,014 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 663 |
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 | 2,055 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,047 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 968 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 942 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joints | 868 |
| 6 | Washers | 617 |
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 | 24.5% | 12,013 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.4% | 8,537 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.6% | 4,222 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.2% | 3,518 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 1,561 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.3% | 1,114 |
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 | 14,409 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 22,807 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 8,336 | 17.8% |
| 90-120k | 2,385 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 749 | 21.9% |
| 150k+ | 287 | 24.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 28,034 | 12.6% |
| Diesel | 20,946 | 14.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,827 | 10.5% |
| 2022 | 9,566 | 11.0% |
| 2023 | 9,895 | 13.6% |
| 2024 | 9,862 | 15.5% |
| 2025 | 9,830 | 16.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 308
On a 2018 308, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.1% 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 (4.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.1% 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 2018 Peugeot 308s pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 48,980 2018 Peugeot 308 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Peugeot 308?
Tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.9%).
Does the 2018 308 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 24.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 48,980 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.