Peugeot 309 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 34 model years and 1,834 tests, the Peugeot 309 passes its MOT 77.9% of the time. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (22.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (11.9%) and lighting & signalling (11.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, service brake imbalance and washers — service brake performance alone was recorded 142 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 19.2% versus 11.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.9% in 2021 to 20.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 309 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 57 | 73.7% | 26.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 130 | 73.1% | 26.9% | Brakes |
| 1988 | 163 | 79.8% | 20.3% | Brakes |
| 1989 | 294 | 78.2% | 21.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 297 | 77.4% | 22.6% | Brakes |
| 1991 | 331 | 77.0% | 23.0% | Brakes |
| 1992 | 350 | 76.0% | 24.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 183 | 85.8% | 14.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.9% | 219 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 219 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 139 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.0% | 128 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.6% | 102 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 90 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.7% | 49 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.1% | 38 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 142 |
| 2 | Service brake imbalance | 98 |
| 3 | Washers | 90 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 80 |
| 5 | Joints | 77 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 65 |
| 7 | Non catalyst emissions | 54 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 54 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 27.9% | 512 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.6% | 397 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 19.8% | 363 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.1% | 295 |
| 5 | Tyres | 11.1% | 204 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.9% | 164 |
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 | 68 | 11.8% |
| 30-60k | 339 | 20.6% |
| 60-90k | 549 | 20.9% |
| 90-120k | 396 | 25.0% |
| 120-150k | 272 | 26.8% |
| 150k+ | 208 | 19.2% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,408 | 21.7% |
| Diesel | 426 | 23.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 417 | 24.9% |
| 2022 | 367 | 21.3% |
| 2023 | 374 | 23.3% |
| 2024 | 342 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 334 | 20.7% |
What to check before buying a Peugeot 309
- Brakes (11.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Peugeot 309?
77.9% of the 1,834 Peugeot 309 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 22.1% fail rate, across model years 1986–2019.
What does the Peugeot 309 most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 11.9% of tests, then lighting & signalling (11.9%).
How much does mileage affect 309 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 11.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 19.2% for 150k+, a 7.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,834 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.