2020 Peugeot 308 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Peugeot 308 passed 91.0% of its 12,548 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (8.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.1%) and tyres (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 304 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.5% in the 0-30k band and 25.3% in the 120-150k band, a 19.8-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 8.0% fail against 11.6% for diesel, a 3.6-point gap across 12,530 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.4% of tests failed in 2022 against 10.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 640 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.3% | 543 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.3% | 285 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.3% | 158 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 76 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 54 |
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 | 304 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 293 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 246 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 209 |
| 5 | Washers | 120 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 103 |
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 | 21.7% | 2,724 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.7% | 1,970 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.9% | 612 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 274 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 218 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.6% | 200 |
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 | 6,289 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 4,738 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,038 | 15.2% |
| 90-120k | 364 | 15.9% |
| 120-150k | 95 | 25.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 9,213 | 8.0% |
| Diesel | 3,317 | 11.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 204 | 5.4% |
| 2023 | 4,064 | 7.4% |
| 2024 | 4,057 | 9.2% |
| 2025 | 4,201 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a 2020 308
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.3% 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.
- Brakes (2.3% 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 2020 Peugeot 308s pass their MOT?
91.0% of the 12,548 2020 Peugeot 308 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Peugeot 308?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by tyres (4.3%).
Does the 2020 308 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 25.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,548 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.