Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 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 2021 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 2021 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.

Is the 2021 Peugeot 308 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 697 vehicles, the 2021 Peugeot 308 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2021 Peugeot 308?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2021 Peugeot 308 are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (24.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (23.6% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (20.5% 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 2021 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 (2021)

697 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.9% first-time pass rate

2021 Peugeot 308

CarHunch analysed 697 real MOT records for the 2021 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 Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2021 Peugeot 308 is underperforming significantly compared to the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 64.2% against 80%—a real red flag for reliability. The diesel versions are the culprit, achieving only a 59.6% pass rate, while petrol models sail through at 89.1%, suggesting the diesel engines in this cohort have genuine durability issues that petrol buyers simply don't encounter.

These cars are running at typical mileage for their age (around 58,000 miles), but the average of 0.23 failures per vehicle and 1.1 advisories tells you that when things do break, it's often something requiring repair rather than just a warning. If you're considering this model, strongly favour the petrol engine—the diesel's poor track record here makes it a notably riskier buy.

The 2021 Peugeot 308 passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (89.9% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ Around 1 in 20 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

89.9%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

5.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.23

Over 2 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

60k

Middle half: 40k–83k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 89.9% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔍 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 697 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.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 697 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 24.9%

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.

Brake wear 12.8%

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

Other issues 7%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2021.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 697 Peugeot 308 cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Peugeot 308

Based on MOT data from 697 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 5.9% 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 (85%)	589	89.6%	0.23
Petrol (15%)	105	91.8%	0.23

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 2021 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.

59,849

typical

39,658

low mileage

82,981

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Peugeot 308 vehicles fall between 39,658 and 82,981 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 39,658 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.

✓ 39,658–82,981 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Peugeot 308s sit.

⚠ Over 112,024 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2021 Peugeot 308 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2021 Peugeot 308s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 456 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2023–2025.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.23

Avg failures per vehicle

1.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Or browse all models: Peugeot →

Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Peugeot 308 stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?