Peugeot 308 Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Peugeot 308 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 241,172 MOT tests across 15 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: small family car | Fuel: Petrol, Diesel
77%
Peugeot 308 pass rate
83%
Peugeot average
82%
All-model average
The Peugeot 308 has an average MOT pass rate of 77%, which is 6 points below the Peugeot average and 5 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Peugeot 308s pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 13 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Peugeot 308 Fails Its MOT On
Of the 44,157 MOT tests on the Peugeot 308 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.
Lights and electrics
39%Cars and vans the same age: 39% · Typical repair £15-£200
Suspension
35%Cars and vans the same age: 35% · Typical repair £150-£600
Brakes
22%Cars and vans the same age: 22% · Typical repair £80-£450
Tyres
22%Cars and vans the same age: 22% · Typical repair £50-£300
Body, chassis and structure
17%Cars and vans the same age: 11% (the 308 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £200-£1200
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Coil spring: fractured or broken (14% of failed tests, suspension)
- Drive shaft CV boot split or insecure (13% of failed tests, body, chassis and structure)
- Tyre tread depth below the 1.6mm limit (9.3% of failed tests, tyres)
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 308 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 308 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 308 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.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Petrol | 1.2L | 90% | 10% | 93% (-3) |
| 2020 | Petrol | 1.2L | 91% | 9% | 92% (-1) |
| 2019 | Petrol | 1.2L | 89% | 11% | 91% (-2) |
| 2018 | Petrol | 1.2L | 85% | 14% | 89% (-4) |
| 2017 | Petrol | 1.2L | 83% | 16% | 87% (-4) |
| 2016 | Petrol | 1.2L | 81% | 19% | 86% (-5) |
| 2015 | Petrol | 1.2L | 80% | 20% | 84% (-4) |
| 2014 | Petrol | 1.2L | 77% | 23% | 82% (-5) |
| 2013 | Petrol | 1.2L | 75% | 25% | 80% (-5) |
| 2012 | Diesel | 1.6L | 75% | 25% | 79% (-4) |
| 2011 | Petrol | 1.6L | 74% | 26% | 77% (-3) |
| 2010 | Petrol | 1.6L | 71% | 28% | 75% (-4) |
| 2009 | Petrol | 1.6L | 70% | 29% | 75% (-5) |
| 2008 | Petrol | 1.6L | 68% | 31% | 74% (-6) |
| 2007 | Petrol | 1.6L | 66% | 33% | 73% (-7) |
Peugeot 308 Running Costs
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Peugeot 308 FAQ
What are the most common Peugeot 308 problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Peugeot 308 that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (39% of the 44,157 failed tests), suspension (35%) and brakes (22%). The single most common fault was "Coil spring: fractured or broken" (14%). Across 241,172 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 77% ended in a pass.
Is the Peugeot 308 reliable?
The Peugeot 308 has an average MOT pass rate of 77%, from 241,172 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 4 points less often on average, so check the history of any example carefully.
Which Peugeot 308 years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2007 (66% of 1,771 tests passed, against 73% for all 2007 cars), the 2008 (68% of 16,248 tests passed, against 74% for all 2008 cars) and the 2016 (81% of 25,851 tests passed, against 86% for all 2016 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 308 faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Peugeot 308 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