Diesel Peugeot 306: MOT pass rate

62% of diesel Peugeot 306s pass the MOT first time, measured across 1,685 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 131,226.

Diesel against the other Peugeot 306 versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Peugeot 306 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 64.9%, and this diesel version sits 1.7 points below the 63.7% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Peugeot 306 fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Peugeot 306 had covered 131,226 miles at test, against 94,586 for the petrol. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Peugeot 306 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Peugeot 306

1. Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle., 3.6% of tests (6.86x the national rate for this defect)
2. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 8.2% of tests (6.27x the national rate for this defect)
3. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 4.6% of tests (6.16x the national rate for this defect)
4. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 5.2% of tests (5.54x the national rate for this defect)
5. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 4.6% of tests (4.42x the national rate for this defect)
6. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 4.1% of tests (4.06x the national rate for this defect)
7. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 4.1% of tests (3.85x the national rate for this defect)
8. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 3.3% of tests (2.52x the national rate for this defect)
9. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 3.9% of tests (2.07x the national rate for this defect)
10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 4.8% of tests (2.02x the national rate for this defect)

From 1,702 DVSA-tracked diesel Peugeot 306 tests, 2024, split out from the Peugeot 306's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4.58% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Peugeot 306

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 7.1% of tests (12.69x the national rate for this defect)
2. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 7.8% of tests (5.11x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 23.5% of tests (4.23x the national rate for this defect)
4. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 5.5% of tests (4.14x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 7.2% of tests (3.59x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 20.9% of tests (3.37x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 8.8% of tests (3.32x the national rate for this defect)
8. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 7.2% of tests (2.54x the national rate for this defect), also fails
9. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 9.6% of tests (2.04x the national rate for this defect)
10. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 19.3% of tests (1.58x the national rate for this defect)

From 1,702 DVSA-tracked diesel Peugeot 306 tests, 2024.

Other Peugeot 306 fuel types

• Petrol Peugeot 306 - 64.9%

All Peugeot 306 MOT data · Every model