1990 Peugeot 309 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 297 MOT tests, the 1990 Peugeot 309 recorded a 77.4% pass rate. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (21.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (11.8%) and lighting & signalling (10.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake imbalance — service brake performance alone was recorded 29 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.8% in the 30-60k band and 21.6% in the 150k+ band, a 6.8-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.1% in 2021 to 21.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
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
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 11.8% of tests. Start there.
- 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 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.