1992 Peugeot 309 — MOT failures & pass rate
350 MOT tests on the 1992 Peugeot 309 are in this dataset, and 76.0% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (23.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.0%) and brakes (13.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and service brake imbalance — service brake performance alone was recorded 25 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1992 309 fails 25.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 23.7% at 120-150k, a spread of only 1.3 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.0% in 2021 to 16.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 49 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.1% | 46 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 28 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 20 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.7% | 20 |
| 6 | Suspension | 5.4% | 19 |
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 | 25 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 23 |
| 3 | Service brake imbalance | 19 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 18 |
| 5 | Washers | 16 |
| 6 | Joints | 13 |
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 | 34.0% | 119 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.7% | 76 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.4% | 75 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.1% | 60 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.3% | 50 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.4% | 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 | 68 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 113 | 21.2% |
| 90-120k | 75 | 30.7% |
| 120-150k | 59 | 23.7% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 232 | 22.8% |
| Diesel | 118 | 26.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 77 | 29.9% |
| 2023 | 75 | 25.3% |
| 2024 | 55 | 16.4% |
| 2025 | 54 | 16.7% |
What to check before buying a 1992 309
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.1% 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 (8.0% 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 1992 Peugeot 309s pass their MOT?
76.0% of the 350 1992 Peugeot 309 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Peugeot 309?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by brakes (13.1%).
Does the 1992 309 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.0% in the 30-60k band to 23.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 350 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.