Is the Peugeot 308 reliable?

On MOT evidence the Peugeot 308 is below average. It passes 67.5% of tests once age and mileage are accounted for, against a national average of 72.3%, which ranks it 202 of 262 models with enough data for a fair comparison. This measures how often the car meets the MOT standard, not how often it breaks down or what a repair costs.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Peugeot 308?

The item recorded most often is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", which appears in 17.6% of failed Peugeot 308 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.

What do testers most often warn about on a Peugeot 308?

The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 30.7% of all Peugeot 308 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a Peugeot 308 usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 83,507 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Which Peugeot 308 years are the most reliable?

Going by MOT pass rate, Peugeot 308 cars first registered 2020–2022 do best at 85.8%, and those registered 2010 and earlier do worst at 50.8%. But that ordering is mostly age, not build year: almost every model passes less often as it wears, so the newest cars top this list whatever they are. A specific year looking strong here means little on its own; the failure items above, and the individual car's own MOT history, tell you far more.

Does a Peugeot 308 get harder to pass as it ages?

Yes. At 3 to 5 years old, 85.8% of Peugeot 308 tests pass. By fifteen years or more, that falls to 50.8%. Nearly every model follows this pattern, which is why comparing raw pass rates between models is misleading unless age is accounted for.

Are most Peugeot 308 models petrol or diesel?

Of the Peugeot 308 cars tested, 65% are diesel, 34% are petrol, 1% are hybrid. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

Model reliability file

Peugeot 308 MOT pass rate & common failures

From 126,023 recorded MOT tests of the Peugeot 308, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

The Peugeot 308 passes 67.5% of MOT tests once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, against a national average of 72.3%. That is below average, ranking it 202 of 262 models with enough data to compare fairly. Based on 126,023 tests. Its most commonly recorded failure is spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, which appears in 17.6% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 83,507 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage

67.5%national average72.3%unadjusted64.3%range covered100%rank202 of 262

The 308 is 4.8 percentage points below the national pass rate once age and mileage are accounted for, which is below average. The unadjusted figure is 64.3%; the difference is what the age and mileage of this model’s fleet was hiding.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Peugeot 308 tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened17.6%
6,502 occurrencesRoad spring broken or fractured explained
2.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc16.1%
5,954 occurrencesDriveshaft CV joint gaiter split or missing explained
3.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements14.1%
5,201 occurrencesTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
4.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm11.0%
4,061 occurrencesBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
5.A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play10.1%
3,745 occurrencesBall joint worn explained
6.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements7.3%
2,696 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained
7.A tyre cords visible or damaged7.2%
2,671 occurrencesTyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
8.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning6.7%
2,457 occurrencesStop lamp not working explained
9.A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps6.5%
2,410 occurrencesLamp not working explained
10.A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc6.4%
2,365 occurrencesSuspension joint dust cover missing or split explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Peugeot 308 tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements30.7%
38,636 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
2.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured20.0%
25,201 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
3.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm11.7%
14,703 testsBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
4.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn11.4%
14,427 testsSuspension arm bush worn explained
5.A tyre seriously damaged10.4%
13,145 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
6.Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users7.8%
9,837 tests
7.Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn4.8%
6,008 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
8.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened4.2%
5,262 testsRoad spring broken or fractured explained

The rest of the record

Everything else recorded on the Peugeot 308

The 19 other defects testers recorded on this model, beyond the most common listed above. Each links to what it means and what it takes to put right.

Known faults

Peugeot 308 common problems, by part and by year

The same failure record read the way a buyer asks the question: which parts wear out on a 308, when they start, and how each registration year compares — including the steps that mark a generation change.

308 common problems and results by year

How wear changes the picture

308 pass rate by age and registration year

How often the Peugeot 308 passes at each age, with the years those cars were first registered. Tests are from 2025, so a car aged 3 to 5 was first used in 2020–2022.

3–5 yrsreg. 2020–202286%

6–8 yrsreg. 2017–201976%

9–11 yrsreg. 2014–201666%

12–14 yrsreg. 2011–201356%

15+ yrsreg. 2010 and earlier51%

Read this as an age curve rather than a verdict on particular model years. Nearly every car passes less often as it gets older, so a newer 308 outscoring an older one says more about wear than about how that year’s cars were built. Bands holding too few tests to be meaningful are omitted rather than shown as a rate.

What gets tested

The 308 fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 83,507
Fuel mix of tested cars: Diesel65.0%
Petrol34.4%
Hybrid0.5%

Trim names grouped into this model (40)

Recorded exactly as DVSA holds them. Trim-level names are rolled up so one model is not split across a dozen thin pages.

308 ACTIVE DIGITAL PURETECH SS
308 ACTIVE PREM DIG P-TECH S/S
308 ACTIVE PREM DIG SW BHDI SS
308 ACTIVE PREM SW B-HDI S/S A
308 ACTIVE PREM SW P-TECH SS A
308 ACTIVE PREMIUM B-HDI S/S A
308 ACTIVE PREMIUM DIG BHDI SS
308 ACTIVE PREMIUM P-TECH SS A
308 ACTIVE PREMIUM PURETECH SS
308 ACTIVE PREMIUM SW BHDI S/S
308 ACTIVE PURETECH S/S AUTO
308 ACTIVE SW PURETECH S/S A
308 ALLURE BLUEHDI S/S AUTO
308 ALLURE DIG SW BHDI S/S A
308 ALLURE DIG SW PTECH S/S
308 ALLURE DIG SW PTECH S/S A
308 ALLURE DIGITAL B-HDI S/S A
308 ALLURE DIGITAL BLUEHDI S/S
308 ALLURE DIGITAL PTECH S/S
308 ALLURE DIGITAL PTECH S/S A
308 ALLURE DIGITAL SW BHDI S/S
308 ALLURE PREM DIG B-HDI SS A
308 ALLURE PREM DIG BHDI S/S A
308 ALLURE PREM DIG P-TECH S/S
308 ALLURE PREM DIG PTECH SS A
308 ALLURE PREM DIG SW BHDI SS
308 ALLURE PREM SW B-HDI S/S A
308 ALLURE PREM SW P-TECH SS A
308 ALLURE PREM SW S/S PHEV A
308 ALLURE PREMIUM B-HDI S/S A
308 ALLURE PREMIUM DIG BHDI SS
308 ALLURE PREMIUM P-TECH SS A
308 ALLURE PREMIUM PURETECH SS
308 ALLURE PREMIUM S/S PHEV A
308 ALLURE PURETECH S/S AUTO
308 ALLURE S/S MHEV AUTO
308 ALLURE S/S PHEV AUTO
308 ALLURE SW BLUEHDI S/S AUTO
308 ALLURE SW PURETECH S/S A
308 ALLURE SW S/S PHEV AUTO

Check a specific Peugeot 308

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other Peugeot models

Peugeot 208 — 68.4% adjusted
Peugeot Partner — 65.1% adjusted
Peugeot 2008 — 69.0% adjusted
Peugeot 3008 — 65.6% adjusted
Peugeot 207 — 50.2% unadjusted
Peugeot 107 — 60.8% adjusted
All Peugeot models

Similar test volumes

Compare against other makes

Audi A5 — 79.1% adjusted, ranked 61
Citroen C4 — 63.8% adjusted, ranked 231
Toyota Corolla — 78.8% adjusted, ranked 64
Land Rover Range Rover Sport — 81.1% adjusted, ranked 47

Common questions

Is the Peugeot 308 reliable?: On MOT evidence the Peugeot 308 is below average. It passes 67.5% of tests once age and mileage are accounted for, against a national average of 72.3%, which ranks it 202 of 262 models with enough data for a fair comparison. This measures how often the car meets the MOT standard, not how often it breaks down or what a repair costs.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Peugeot 308?: The item recorded most often is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", which appears in 17.6% of failed Peugeot 308 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a Peugeot 308?: The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 30.7% of all Peugeot 308 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Peugeot 308 usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 83,507 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.
Which Peugeot 308 years are the most reliable?: Going by MOT pass rate, Peugeot 308 cars first registered 2020–2022 do best at 85.8%, and those registered 2010 and earlier do worst at 50.8%. But that ordering is mostly age, not build year: almost every model passes less often as it wears, so the newest cars top this list whatever they are. A specific year looking strong here means little on its own; the failure items above, and the individual car's own MOT history, tell you far more.
Does a Peugeot 308 get harder to pass as it ages?: Yes. At 3 to 5 years old, 85.8% of Peugeot 308 tests pass. By fifteen years or more, that falls to 50.8%. Nearly every model follows this pattern, which is why comparing raw pass rates between models is misleading unless age is accounted for.
Are most Peugeot 308 models petrol or diesel?: Of the Peugeot 308 cars tested, 65% are diesel, 34% are petrol, 1% are hybrid. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. The adjusted rate is directly standardised across twenty-five age and mileage bands and reweighted onto the national distribution, so this model is compared against cars that have lived a similar life rather than against a younger or lighter-used fleet.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.