Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Peugeot 308?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2008 Peugeot 308?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2008 Peugeot 308?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2008 Peugeot 308 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

43% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2008 Peugeot 308 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 27,143 vehicles, the 2008 Peugeot 308 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Peugeot 308?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Peugeot 308 are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (69.2% of vehicles), Oil leak, but not excessive (68.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (55.6% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2008 Peugeot 308?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Peugeot 308 (2008)

27,143 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.3% first-time pass rate

2008 Peugeot 308

CarHunch analysed 27,143 real MOT records for the 2008 Peugeot 308. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2008 Peugeot 308 is notably less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 72.3% versus the national 80%, and a concerning 43.3% of vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point. Petrol and diesel versions perform almost identically (72.8% and 71.8% pass rates respectively), so fuel type won't be your deciding factor here.

These 308s are typically running around 81,000 miles at test time, which is reasonable for their age, but they're averaging 4.4 failures and nearly 20 advisories per vehicle—suggesting chronic wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. Before buying one, budget for a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the cooling, suspension and brake systems, and factor in ongoing maintenance costs above the class average.

The 2008 Peugeot 308 has a below-average first-time pass rate (72.3% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

72.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

43.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.38

Over 15 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

81k

Middle half: 65k–99k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 19.8 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 27,143 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 27,143 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 69.2%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 68.4%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Tyre wear 55.6%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 27,143 Peugeot 308 cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Peugeot 308

Based on MOT data from 27,143 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 43.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (50%)	13,622	71.8%	4.56
Petrol (50%)	13,518	72.8%	4.21

Colour Breakdown

Based on 189,459 Peugeot 308 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 22.9%

43,456

Grey 22.5%

42,705

Silver 19.3%

36,487

Blue 17.5%

33,208

White 9%

16,966

Red 8.3%

15,739

Brown 0.4%

702

Yellow 0%

Gold 0%

Bronze 0%

Green 0%

Beige 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Peugeot 308 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

81,278

typical

64,955

low mileage

98,929

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Peugeot 308 vehicles fall between 64,955 and 98,929 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 64,955 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 64,955–98,929 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Peugeot 308s sit.

⚠ Over 133,554 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Peugeot 308 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 22% of 2008 Peugeot 308s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 5,520 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (22% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.38

Avg failures per vehicle

19.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Peugeot 308: All 308 years → Which year to buy? →

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See how the 2008 Peugeot 308 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on