Used car guide

1995 Peugeot 306 diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Peugeot 306 first registered in 1995 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 210 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 210 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

210MOTs of 1995 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
54%pass first time (all 1995 cars: 67%)
4,200typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for tyre condition

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1995 Peugeot 306 diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1995 Peugeot 306 diesel than on all cars registered in 1995.

  • Tyre condition2.1× usual
    Peugeot 306
    20.5% All 1995 cars
    9.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.7%, against 2.1% of all 1995 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges. Uneven wear can point to tracking or suspension problems.

Common 1995 Peugeot 306 diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1995 Peugeot 306 diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    42% 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.

  • Brakes
    39% 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
    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.

  • Tyres
    30% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    27% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    14% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1995 Peugeot 306 diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the tyre condition? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 1995 Peugeot 306 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Peugeot 306?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Peugeot 306 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022–Too few tests
2002493Brakes 49%
20012,510Brakes 49%
20003,229Brakes 46%
19992,247Brakes 42%
19981,562Brakes 41%
19971,061Brakes 40%
1996599Brakes 36%
1994230Brakes 42%
1993–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Peugeot 306 cars first registered in 1995. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score