Peugeot 306 Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Peugeot 306 fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 10,385 MOT tests across 10 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: family car | Fuel: Petrol, Diesel
70%
Peugeot 306 pass rate
83%
Peugeot average
82%
All-model average
The Peugeot 306 has an average MOT pass rate of 70%, which is 13 points below the Peugeot average and 12 points below the average across all models in our data. The Peugeot 306 has maintained consistent MOT pass rates across model years, varying by only 1 percentage point.
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What the Peugeot 306 Fails Its MOT On
Of the 1,335 MOT tests on the Peugeot 306 that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Brakes
42%Cars and vans the same age: 32% (the 306 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£450
Lights and electrics
38%Cars and vans the same age: 46% · Typical repair £15-£200
Suspension
34%Cars and vans the same age: 35% · Typical repair £150-£600
Body, chassis and structure
24%Cars and vans the same age: 25% · Typical repair £200-£1200
Exhaust, emissions and leaks
23%Cars and vans the same age: 19% · Typical repair £80-£800
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Parking brake efficiency below requirements (15% of failed tests, brakes)
- Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (10% of failed tests, steering)
- Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases (9% of failed tests, body, chassis and structure)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Peugeot 306 Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each 306 year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Peugeot 306 Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
Peugeot 306 Running Costs
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Peugeot 306 FAQ
What are the most common Peugeot 306 problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Peugeot 306 that failed at the first attempt most often failed on brakes (42% of the 1,335 failed tests), lights and electrics (38%) and suspension (34%). The single most common fault was "Parking brake efficiency below requirements" (15%). Across 10,385 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 70% ended in a pass.
Is the Peugeot 306 reliable?
The Peugeot 306 has an average MOT pass rate of 70%, from 10,385 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 5 points less often on average, so check the history of any example carefully.
Which Peugeot 306 years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 1999 (68% of 2,237 tests passed, against 75% for all 1999 cars), the 2000 (69% of 1,968 tests passed, against 74% for all 2000 cars) and the 1998 (71% of 1,731 tests passed, against 76% for all 1998 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Peugeot 306 faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Peugeot 306 typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Peugeot Models
Common problems pages for other Peugeot models