1990 Peugeot 309 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 297 MOT tests analysed for the 1990 Peugeot 309, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 77.4% was below the average for cars of a similar age (79.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 21.6% in the 150k+ group versus 14.8% in the 30-60k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.8% | 35 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 30 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 26 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.4% | 25 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.4% | 16 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 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 | 29 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 19 |
| 3 | Service brake imbalance | 18 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 15 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 6 | Washers | 9 |
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 | 31.3% | 93 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.6% | 82 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 18.9% | 56 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.2% | 51 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.8% | 44 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.1% | 33 |
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 | 54 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 84 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 53 | 30.2% |
| 120-150k | 38 | 28.9% |
| 150k+ | 51 | 21.6% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 254 | 21.6% |
| Diesel | 43 | 27.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 70 | 27.1% |
| 2022 | 60 | 21.7% |
| 2023 | 51 | 21.6% |
| 2024 | 59 | 20.3% |
| 2025 | 57 | 21.1% |
What to check before buying a 1990 309
Before buying a 1990 Peugeot 309, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 11.8% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (11.8% 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 (10.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.8% 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 1990 Peugeot 309s pass their MOT?
77.4% of the 297 1990 Peugeot 309 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Peugeot 309?
Brakes, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.1%).
Does the 1990 309 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.8% in the 30-60k band to 21.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 297 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.