2009 Peugeot 308 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 90,094 MOT tests analysed for the 2009 Peugeot 308, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 70.7% was below the average for small family cars of a similar age (74.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.3% in the 150k+ group versus 16.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 15,541 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.4% | 11,134 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 8,103 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.5% | 7,634 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 6,289 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.5% | 5,810 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 6,154 |
| 2 | Joints | 5,927 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 5,619 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 5,454 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 5,008 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 4,332 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 31.6% | 28,519 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.1% | 28,019 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.5% | 22,096 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.4% | 14,748 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 14,099 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.4% | 10,267 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 942 | 16.4% |
| 30-60k | 10,078 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 27,671 | 28.4% |
| 90-120k | 27,569 | 30.7% |
| 120-150k | 15,594 | 32.0% |
| 150k+ | 8,140 | 32.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 54,770 | 29.7% |
| Petrol | 35,324 | 28.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,631 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 21,068 | 28.6% |
| 2023 | 18,400 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 15,157 | 30.3% |
| 2025 | 11,838 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 308
Before buying a 2009 Peugeot 308, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 17.3% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (17.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (9.0% 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.
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 2009 Peugeot 308s pass their MOT?
70.7% of the 90,094 2009 Peugeot 308 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Peugeot 308?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by suspension (12.4%).
Does the 2009 308 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 90,094 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.