Peugeot 309 common problems and MOT failures
What goes wrong on a used Peugeot 309, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 428 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.
The 1986 Peugeot 309
Our MOT figures start with cars first registered in 1990. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Peugeot 309 as a whole.
What to check on a 1986 car
- Rust and structure
Look underneath at the sills, floor, chassis rails and jacking points. Rust in the structure costs far more to fix than paint bubbles.
- MOT-exempt isn’t roadworthy
Cars over 40 don’t need an MOT, but they must still be safe. A voluntary MOT or a specialist inspection is worth the money.
- Paperwork
Old MOT certificates, bills and restoration photos show how it has been looked after. Check the logbook matches the car’s VIN and engine number.
- Originality
Changes from standard affect value and insurance. Ask what has been replaced or modified.
- Insurance
Classic insurance is often cheaper but may limit mileage and use. Get a quote before you buy.
Other years
Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).
What usually goes wrong with a Peugeot 309?
Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.
- Cars registered in 2023 · 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol
Timing belt that runs in oil (PureTech petrol)
The 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol engines use a timing belt that runs in the engine oil (a “wet belt”). It can break down early and shed rubber that blocks the oil supply, which can wreck the engine. Some also burn too much oil. Stellantis now covers earlier engines for belt and oil-burning problems for up to 10 years or 112,000 miles, as long as the car has been serviced on schedule.
At the viewing: Ask for a full service history showing the right oil, and when the belt was last checked or changed. Check the oil level on the dipstick, and that no oil-pressure or engine warning light stays on.
Source: Parkers: Stellantis wet belt compensation, and the cars at risk, Stellantis: compensation policy for earlier PureTech 1.0 and 1.2 engines (7 May 2025)
Peugeot 309 MOT pass rate by year
Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.
Questions to ask the seller before buying a Peugeot 309
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- When was the timing belt last checked or changed, and has it had the right oil at every service? Is the car still within Stellantis’ extended PureTech cover?
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
Looking at a Peugeot 309?
Check the actual car: its own MOT history and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score