Family hatchback · 1996–2020 cars
Peugeot 306 reliability
The Peugeot 306 fails 43.7% of first MOT tests, 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 14,920 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Peugeot 306 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 43.7%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 10% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 14,920
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Peugeot 306 ages
Each point is the share of Peugeot 306s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Peugeot 306 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 44.9% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 43% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 43.6% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 42.3% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 46.6% | 37.1% |
| 25 | 42.2% | 35.8% |
By year
The best and worst Peugeot 306 years
2001 cars come out best and 1999 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 670 | 42.1% | 0% more fails | 102,558 |
| 2001 306 | 3,404 | 43% | 3% more fails | 105,577 |
| 2000 306 | 4,160 | 43.7% | 8% more fails | 103,323 |
| 1999 306 | 3,389 | 45.7% | 18% more fails | 103,175 |
| 1998 306 | 2,291 | 42% | 12% more fails | 106,376 |
| 1997 | 800 | 43.4% | 19% more fails | 101,066 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Peugeot 306
Its weak spot is steering: 64% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Brakes18.8%45% above avg
- Lights and electrics17.3%6% below avg
- Suspension13.7%6% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure11%12% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks9.7%30% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors8.7%20% above avg
- Steering6.4%64% above avg
- Tyres5.8%15% above avg
- Seat belts and airbags4.1%18% above avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 5.39% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 3.62% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 3
Exhaust has major gas leak 3.45% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 4
Position lamp not working 3.26% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 5
Steering rack gaiter no longer sealed 2.94% of tests
A damaged gaiter lets dirt into the steering rack, causing wear and possibly costly repairs later.
- 6
CV joint boot split or insecure 2.85% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 7
Lambda reading outside specified limits 2.59% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 8
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 2.23% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Peugeot 306's MOT certificate most often.
- Engine oil leak, not excessive16.51%
- Brake disc pitted or scored12.2%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit10.9%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking10.79%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy10.38%
- Exhaust has minor gas leak8.06%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Peugeot 306
- 1
Parking brake efficiency below minimum
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 3
Exhaust has major gas leak
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 4
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol58.8%
- Diesel41.1%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Silver, Blue, Red, Green, Grey
Average engine size: 1.8 litres.
Compare
How the Peugeot 306 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Audi S3 | 17.5% | 45% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Infiniti Q30 | 14.9% | 22% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volkswagen e-Golf | 12.4% | 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan Primera | 44.3% | 8% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Peugeot 306 | 43.7% | 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Hyundai Matrix | 46.8% | 19% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| DS4 | 29.4% | 45% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every family hatchback ranked in the family hatchback reliability index, or all Peugeot models.
Questions
Peugeot 306 questions, answered
Is the Peugeot 306 reliable?
On MOT results, the Peugeot 306 is below average: it fails 43.7% of first MOT tests, 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 41 of 65 family hatchback models in our index.
What fails most on a Peugeot 306 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Peugeot 306 are parking brake efficiency below minimum (5.39% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (3.62% of tests), exhaust has major gas leak (3.45% of tests). By area, brakes fails 18.8% of its tests.
Which Peugeot 306 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2001 cars do best (3% more MOT fails than the average car its age) and 1999 cars do worst (18% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Peugeot 306 before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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