Used car guide

2002 Peugeot 307: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2002 Peugeot 307s, from 1,028 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,028MOT tests in 2025

48%pass first time (all 2002 cars: 60%)

4,300typical miles a year

2.3×the usual rate for brake lights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2002 Peugeot 307s than on all cars registered in 2002.

Brake lights2.3× usual

Peugeot 307
13.2% All 2002 cars
5.7%

Failed outright at MOT: 11.3%, against 4.6% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
Sidelights2.2× usual

Peugeot 307
13.2% All 2002 cars
5.9%

Failed outright at MOT: 11.5%, against 5.1% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
Suspension arm bushes and joints1.9× usual

Peugeot 307
15.7% All 2002 cars
8.3%

Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 1.8% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.
Side repeaters4.2× usual

Peugeot 307
6.3% All 2002 cars
1.5%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 0.8% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
Anti-roll bar link joints2.5× usual

Peugeot 307
7.5% All 2002 cars
3%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 1% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 6.6% here, against 17.7% of all 2002 cars.

By area

The share of 2002 Peugeot 307 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Suspension

55% of testsRough price £120–£400

At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
Lights and electrics

49% of testsRough price £10–£80

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
Tyres

36% of testsRough price £70–£150

At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
Brakes

36% of testsRough price £150–£350

At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
Oil and fluid leaks

21% of testsRough price £80–£600

At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.
Exhaust and emissions

17% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Peugeot 307?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2008	1,458	Suspension 52%
2007	5,772	Suspension 54%
2006	5,352	Suspension 53%
2005	3,375	Suspension 53%
2004	2,519	Suspension 53%
2003	1,710	Suspension 54%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2002 Peugeot 307s registered in 2002. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score