Used car guide

2021 Peugeot 308: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Peugeot 308s, from 1,571 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,571MOT tests in 2025
84%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
8,900typical miles a year
9.8×the usual rate for headlights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Peugeot 308s than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Headlights9.8× usual
    Peugeot 308
    3.9% All 2021 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 0.4% of all 2021 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.

  • Number plate lights4.2× usual
    Peugeot 308
    2.5% All 2021 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Headlight aim2.4× usual
    Peugeot 308
    3.3% All 2021 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 1.4% of all 2021 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.

By area

The share of 2021 Peugeot 308 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    23% 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
    16% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    11% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    4% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    2% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    1% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Peugeot 308?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20223,180Tyres 29%
20203,773Tyres 28%
20197,138Tyres 31%
20188,421Tyres 31%
20179,083Tyres 33%
201614,317Tyres 33%
201513,636Tyres 35%
201411,636Tyres 37%
20139,743Tyres 38%
20129,174Suspension 39%
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 2021 Peugeot 308s registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score