Used car guide

2012 Peugeot 308: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Peugeot 308s, from 9,174 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

9,174MOT tests in 2025
56%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
7,400typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Peugeot 308s than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2× usual
    Peugeot 308
    9% All 2012 cars
    4.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.4%, against 2.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Headlights1.9× usual
    Peugeot 308
    8.9% All 2012 cars
    4.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5%, against 2.9% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Headlight aim2× usual
    Peugeot 308
    7.8% All 2012 cars
    3.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.8%, against 3.9% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

  • Ball joint1.6× usual
    Peugeot 308
    9.2% All 2012 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, against 3% of all 2012 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.

  • Anti-lock braking system6.4× usual
    Peugeot 308
    3.2% All 2012 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 0.5% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.7% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars. Sub-frame: 0.9% here, against 5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Peugeot 308 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    39% 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.

  • Tyres
    38% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    34% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    34% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    9% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

Looking at a Peugeot 308?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20223,180Tyres 29%
20211,571Tyres 23%
20203,773Tyres 28%
20197,138Tyres 31%
20188,421Tyres 31%
20179,083Tyres 33%
201614,317Tyres 33%
201513,636Tyres 35%
201411,636Tyres 37%
20139,743Tyres 38%
20118,384Suspension 42%
201010,204Suspension 41%
20098,785Suspension 45%
20085,807Suspension 47%
2007588Suspension 54%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Peugeot 308s registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score