Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 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 2012 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 2012 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 2012 Peugeot 308 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

48% 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 2012 Peugeot 308 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 13,081 vehicles, the 2012 Peugeot 308 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 77.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Peugeot 308?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Peugeot 308 are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (61% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (54.2% of vehicles), Oil leak, but not excessive (52.2% 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 2012 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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Peugeot 308 (2012)

13,081 real MOT outcomes analysed • 77.9% first-time pass rate

2012 Peugeot 308

CarHunch analysed 13,081 real MOT records for the 2012 Peugeot 308. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2012 Peugeot 308 falls slightly below the UK average with a 77.8% first-time pass rate, and this is a genuine concern: nearly half of these vehicles (48%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above what you'd want to see. Diesel models in this cohort are particularly troublesome, passing at 77.4% versus petrol's healthier 80.7%, suggesting fuel-type matters here.

With a median mileage of 69,431 miles for a 12-year-old car, these are reasonable runners, yet they're accumulating an average of 3 failures and 16.7 advisories per test—indicating consistent wear patterns across the fleet. Before buying one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on emissions systems and suspension (common problem areas on this generation), and factor in that ongoing maintenance costs will likely be above average for the age.

The 2012 Peugeot 308 has a decent first-time pass rate (77.9%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

77.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

48%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.01

Over 12.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

69k

Middle half: 53k–87k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 16.7 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 13,081 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 13,081 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 61%

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

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

Tyre wear 54.2%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Other issues 52.2%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 13,081 Peugeot 308 cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 3.2 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

80.7%

Petrol

1,620 vehicles

77.5%

Diesel

11,459 vehicles

Before you buy a 2012 Peugeot 308

Based on MOT data from 13,081 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 48% 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 (88%)	11,459	77.5%	3.06
Petrol (12%)	1,620	80.7%	2.67

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 2012 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.

69,431

typical

52,989

low mileage

87,159

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Peugeot 308 vehicles fall between 52,989 and 87,159 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 52,989 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.

✓ 52,989–87,159 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Peugeot 308s sit.

⚠ Over 117,664 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Peugeot 308 — Still on the Road

Most 2012 Peugeot 308s are still being driven.

8,844 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 71% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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

12.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.01

Avg failures per vehicle

16.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Or browse all models: Peugeot →

Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Peugeot 308 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing