Used car guide

2012 Peugeot 308 diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Peugeot 308 first registered in 2012 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 25,905 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

25,905MOTs of 2012 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
57%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 64%)
8,000typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Peugeot 308 diesel?

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

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.1× usual
    Peugeot 308
    7.9% All 2012 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.8%, against 1.9% 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.

  • Headlight aim2× usual
    Peugeot 308
    7.7% All 2012 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.7%, against 3.8% 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 joint1.7× usual
    Peugeot 308
    8.6% All 2012 cars
    5.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 2.9% 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.

  • Braking performance1.7× usual
    Peugeot 308
    8.1% All 2012 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 1.9% 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.

  • Headlights1.8× usual
    Peugeot 308
    7.2% All 2012 cars
    4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.9%, against 2.7% 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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.6% here, against 5% of all 2012 cars. Exhaust system: 1.9% here, against 5% of all 2012 cars.

Common 2012 Peugeot 308 diesel MOT failures and advisories

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

  • Tyres
    37% 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.

  • Suspension
    35% 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
    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.

  • Lights and electrics
    32% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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
    8% of testsRough price £60–£350

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

Known faults on the 2012 Peugeot 308 diesel

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2012 Peugeot 308 diesel

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

  1. Has the DPF had any work?
  2. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2012 Peugeot 308 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the headlight aim? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2012 Peugeot 308 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2012 Peugeot 308 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Peugeot 308?

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 308 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023198Tyres 13%
20223,930Tyres 28%
20213,259Tyres 21%
202011,235Tyres 25%
201921,284Tyres 30%
201825,239Tyres 30%
201727,414Tyres 31%
201643,573Tyres 32%
201541,816Tyres 34%
201436,050Tyres 36%
201330,664Tyres 36%
201128,187Suspension 37%
201036,124Tyres 38%
200933,439Suspension 42%
200823,964Suspension 45%
20072,653Suspension 51%

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 308 cars first registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score