2021 Peugeot 308 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,610 MOT tests, the 2021 Peugeot 308 recorded a 91.0% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 8.3%, so the 2021 308 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.5%) and tyres (3.7%) 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 brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 140 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 14.0% once past 120-150k — 2.9× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.4pp more often than petrol ones (11.6% vs 6.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 233 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.7% | 133 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.2% | 81 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.3% | 48 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.7% | 26 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 23 |
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 | 140 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 107 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 61 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 55 |
| 5 | Washers | 33 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 30 |
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 | 17.1% | 616 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.8% | 499 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.0% | 182 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 65 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.7% | 62 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 52 |
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 | 1,580 | 4.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,259 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 507 | 14.8% |
| 90-120k | 198 | 14.1% |
| 120-150k | 57 | 14.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,821 | 11.6% |
| Petrol | 1,779 | 6.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 109 | 9.2% |
| 2024 | 1,699 | 7.3% |
| 2025 | 1,784 | 10.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 308
On a 2021 308, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.7% 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 (2.2% 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 2021 Peugeot 308s pass their MOT?
91.0% of the 3,610 2021 Peugeot 308 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Peugeot 308?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by tyres (3.7%).
Does the 2021 308 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.8% in the 0-30k band to 14.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,610 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.