1989 Peugeot 309 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 294 MOT tests analysed for the 1989 Peugeot 309, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 78.2% was below the average for cars of a similar age (79.7%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 36 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.9% | 32 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 19 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.8% | 17 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 16 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 14 |
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 | 19 |
| 2 | Non catalyst emissions | 14 |
| 3 | Service brake imbalance | 14 |
| 4 | Washers | 13 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 12 |
| 6 | Joints | 11 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 23.8% | 70 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.4% | 66 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.4% | 54 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.0% | 47 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.5% | 25 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 22 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 49 | 20.4% |
| 60-90k | 91 | 22.0% |
| 90-120k | 61 | 22.9% |
| 120-150k | 45 | 31.1% |
| 150k+ | 38 | 10.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 64 | 25.0% |
| 2022 | 61 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 65 | 21.5% |
| 2024 | 50 | 16.0% |
| 2025 | 54 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 1989 309
Before buying a 1989 Peugeot 309, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 12.2% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.9% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.5% 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
How many 1989 Peugeot 309s pass their MOT?
78.2% of the 294 1989 Peugeot 309 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1989 Peugeot 309?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by brakes (10.9%).
Does the 1989 309 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.4% in the 30-60k band to 10.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 294 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.