Peugeot 308 Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Peugeot 308 passes its MOT first time on 66.1% of tests, 3.8 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (69.9%). That puts it ahead of 29% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2011 308 does best (beats 47% of cars) and the 2013 worst (beats 18%).

Of its engines, the 1.5 Diesel does best (beats 39%) and the 1.4 Petrol worst (beats 20%).

Watch these weak spots

Body & structure1.7×as often as a typical car

Emissions & leaks1.5×as often as a typical car

Drive shaft (CV) joints3.1×as often as a typical car

Headlight aim1.4×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Peugeot 308Typical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 17%

Beats 20%

Beats 23%

Beats 27%

Beats 47%

Beats 35%

Beats 18%

Beats 34%

Beats 40%

Beats 30%

Beats 32%

Beats 26%

Beats 38%

Beats 41%

Beats 42%

Beats 60%

Beats 67%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	2007–2018	683,856	63.9%	Beats 30%	D
1.6 Petrol	2007–2018	182,327	59.4%	Beats 23%	D
1.2 Petrol	2014–2023	163,189	81.6%	Beats 39%	D
2.0 Diesel	2007–2018	91,592	67.3%	Beats 30%	D
1.4 Petrol	2008–2012	44,269	56.5%	Beats 20%	E
1.5 Diesel	2018–2022	32,602	81.0%	Beats 39%	D
1.6 Hybrid	2022–2022	1,169	87.5%	Beats 49%	C

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Lights: 14.2% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 12.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics

14.2% vs 12.1%

Suspension

9.7% vs 9.3%

Tyres

8.0% vs 6.9%

Brakes

7.6% vs 6.7%

Body & structure

5.0% vs 3.0%

Emissions & leaks

4.4% vs 2.9%

Visibility

4.4% vs 4.8%

Steering

2.5% vs 1.7%

Seat belts & airbags

0.6% vs 0.8%

Wheels

0.4% vs 0.4%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Headlight aim 1.4× typical
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
Coil springs 1.5× typical
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
Number plate lights 1.8× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Headlight bulbs & units 1.5× typical
Check dipped and main beam on both sides.
Track rod ends 1.7× typical
Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres.
Tyre damage & cracking
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Peugeot 308Typical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Headlight aim	4.6%	3.2%	1.4×
Coil springs	4.2%	2.8%	1.5×
Tyre damage & cracking	4.1%	3.7%	1.1×
Drive shaft (CV) joints	3.9%	1.3%	3.1×
Tyre tread depth	3.8%	2.9%	1.3×
Headlight bulbs & units	3.2%	2.2%	1.5×
Brake lights	3.1%	2.3%	1.3×
Brake pads	3.0%	2.2%	1.4×
Number plate lights	2.7%	1.5%	1.8×
Windscreen washers	2.6%	2.2%	1.2×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	45.9
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened	41.6
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	39.8
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	38.4
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	35.3
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm	28.8
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	28.6
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	26.0

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2023 Peugeot 3081 engine89.4% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	1,376	89.4%	Beats 67%	B

2022 Peugeot 3083 engines88.2% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	4,304	89.0%	Beats 59%	C
1.5 Diesel	1,416	86.4%	Beats 69%	B
1.6 Hybrid	1,169	87.5%	Beats 49%	C

2021 Peugeot 3082 engines84.8% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	2,297	81.8%	Beats 39%	D
1.2 Petrol	2,296	87.8%	Beats 45%	C

2020 Peugeot 3082 engines85.4% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	10,670	87.3%	Beats 50%	C
1.5 Diesel	3,733	79.9%	Beats 24%	D

2019 Peugeot 3082 engines83.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	21,667	83.8%	Beats 31%	D
1.5 Diesel	12,003	82.0%	Beats 49%	C

2018 Peugeot 3085 engines80.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	27,649	81.0%	Beats 21%	D
1.5 Diesel	13,153	79.8%	Beats 33%	D
1.6 Diesel	5,888	75.1%	Beats 21%	D
2.0 Diesel	1,948	80.1%	Beats 36%	D
1.6 Petrol	1,294	84.9%	Beats 61%	B

2017 Peugeot 3084 engines78.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	27,235	76.3%	Beats 29%	D
1.2 Petrol	26,644	81.3%	Beats 37%	D
2.0 Diesel	6,928	77.7%	Beats 25%	D
1.6 Petrol	1,800	81.2%	Beats 38%	D

2016 Peugeot 3084 engines76.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	64,704	75.1%	Beats 31%	D
1.2 Petrol	31,219	80.3%	Beats 40%	D
2.0 Diesel	16,993	72.4%	Beats 13%	E
1.6 Petrol	2,836	78.3%	Beats 29%	D

2015 Peugeot 3084 engines75.2% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	78,868	74.3%	Beats 41%	C
1.2 Petrol	28,285	79.3%	Beats 48%	C
2.0 Diesel	18,017	72.7%	Beats 26%	D
1.6 Petrol	1,701	77.1%	Beats 32%	D

2014 Peugeot 3084 engines71.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	84,497	69.8%	Beats 32%	D
1.6 Petrol	9,802	74.3%	Beats 27%	D
1.2 Petrol	9,079	77.7%	Beats 58%	C
2.0 Diesel	6,826	74.0%	Beats 46%	C

2013 Peugeot 3083 engines64.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	84,966	63.9%	Beats 18%	E
1.6 Petrol	6,889	68.2%	Beats 14%	E
2.0 Diesel	2,915	67.8%	Beats 24%	D

2012 Peugeot 3084 engines64.3% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	77,821	63.4%	Beats 34%	D
1.6 Petrol	10,410	68.6%	Beats 37%	D
2.0 Diesel	4,857	67.8%	Beats 42%	C
1.4 Petrol	2,003	69.1%	Beats 42%	C

2011 Peugeot 3084 engines64.4% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	60,652	63.6%	Beats 50%	C
1.6 Petrol	19,380	66.4%	Beats 40%	D
2.0 Diesel	7,010	63.8%	Beats 37%	D
1.4 Petrol	5,800	68.0%	Beats 53%	C

2010 Peugeot 3084 engines56.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	68,597	54.9%	Beats 27%	D
1.6 Petrol	40,086	59.2%	Beats 26%	D
1.4 Petrol	10,023	59.1%	Beats 25%	D
2.0 Diesel	8,840	58.7%	Beats 36%	D

2009 Peugeot 3084 engines53.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	68,170	51.3%	Beats 25%	D
1.6 Petrol	37,736	55.3%	Beats 20%	D
1.4 Petrol	17,166	53.4%	Beats 15%	E
2.0 Diesel	9,856	57.3%	Beats 41%	C

2008 Peugeot 3084 engines50.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	55,657	48.9%	Beats 23%	D
1.6 Petrol	44,447	51.4%	Beats 18%	E
1.4 Petrol	9,277	49.2%	Beats 12%	E
2.0 Diesel	5,596	51.3%	Beats 31%	D

2007 Peugeot 3083 engines47.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	6,801	48.2%	Beats 23%	D
1.6 Petrol	5,946	47.8%	Beats 12%	E
2.0 Diesel	1,806	47.0%	Beats 19%	E

FAQ

What is the Peugeot 308 MOT pass rate?

66.1% of MOT tests on the Peugeot 308 were passed first time, based on 1,199,004 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2007–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 69.9% of the time.

Is the Peugeot 308 reliable?

On MOT results it rates D (below average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 29% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Peugeot 308 year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2011 308 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 47% of cars on UK roads. The 2013 does worst: it beats 18%.

Which Peugeot 308 engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.5 Diesel does best: it beats 39% of cars on UK roads. The 1.4 Petrol does worst: it beats 20%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Peugeot 308?

The most common failure items are headlight aim, coil springs, tyre damage & cracking. Compared with similar cars, drive shaft (CV) joints comes up 3.1× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Peugeot 308 reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ