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Peugeot 306 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Peugeot 306 car check

Is the Peugeot 306 reliable? We analysed 3,183,877 real MOT tests across 366,849 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,183,877 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
65.4%
Typical Mileage
96,765mi
Annual Mileage
6,297mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
33yrs

The Peugeot 306 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Peugeot 306.

Peugeot 306 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Peugeot 306. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Peugeot 306 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Peugeot 306 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

77.8%
2008
65.6%
2007
66.9%
2006
69.3%
2005
67.8%
2004
65.3%
2003
70.5%
2002
68.9%
2001
66.9%
2000
66%
1999
65.9%
1998
65%
1997
63.1%
1996
62.4%
1995
61.6%
1994
62%
1993
62.7%
1971

Peugeot 306 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Peugeot 306 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 180,645
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 178,447
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 118,536
Brake hose excessively deteriorated 108,455
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 102,612
position lamp(s) not working 98,373
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 95,322
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 93,273
parking brake recording little or no effort 92,206
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 73,872

Peugeot 306 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Peugeot 306 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,689 mi/yr
Typical
6,297 mi/yr
Average
7,247 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,594 mi/yr

Peugeot 306 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Peugeot 306 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 63 77.8% 40,000 57,415 90,178
2007 64 65.6% 60,651 86,381 113,642
2006 124 66.9% 44,869 64,345 87,216
2005 176 69.3% 50,183 73,172 107,209
2004 367 67.8% 57,293 84,426 101,470
2003 758 65.3% 60,212 87,724 121,533
2002 42,464 70.5% 57,575 84,923 117,872
2001 296,723 68.9% 61,129 85,498 114,026
2000 506,641 66.9% 64,442 87,878 115,338
1999 525,391 66.0% 69,640 92,091 118,238
1998 557,602 65.9% 73,189 95,522 121,109
1997 455,438 65.0% 77,252 99,564 124,320
1996 326,939 63.1% 81,263 104,102 128,909
1995 240,334 62.4% 86,212 109,407 134,431
1994 164,869 61.6% 89,955 113,071 138,451
1993 64,799 62.0% 87,936 111,598 136,976
1971 648 62.7% 89,324 116,698 143,529

How Long Does a Peugeot 306 Last?

Based on 366,849 Peugeot 306 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.0 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
33 years

Peugeot 306 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Peugeot 306 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
96,765 mi
75th Percentile
123,373 mi
95th Percentile
167,135 mi
Max Recorded
1,610,250 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Peugeot 306

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2008

77.8% MOT pass rate from 63 tests

Year to avoid
1994

61.6% MOT pass rate from 164,869 tests

The best year to buy a used Peugeot 306 is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 77.8% across 63 tests. The 1994 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Peugeot 306 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Peugeot 306 THIS CAR 65.4% 3,183,877 96,765 mi 33 yrs
Peugeot 206 67.7% 9,831,622 65,066 mi 28 yrs
Peugeot 307 67.5% 5,095,133 73,548 mi 25 yrs
Peugeot 207 70.9% 4,554,199 59,259 mi 20 yrs
Hyundai Tucson 82.7% 1,015,319 46,583 mi 22 yrs

Compared to the Peugeot 206 (67.7% pass rate) and the Peugeot 307 (67.5% pass rate), the Peugeot 306 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used Peugeot 306?

The Peugeot 306 has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.4% across 3,183,877 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Peugeot 306 are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (180,645 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (178,447), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (118,536). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Peugeot 306 owner drives around 6,297 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Peugeot 306 models stay on UK roads for around 33 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Peugeot 306 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Peugeot 306 reliable?
Based on 3,183,877 MOT tests, the Peugeot 306 has a 65.4% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Peugeot 306?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Peugeot 306 do per year?
The typical Peugeot 306 does around 6,297 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Peugeot 306 last?
Most Peugeot 306 models stay on UK roads for around 33 years based on our analysis of 366,849 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Peugeot 306?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Peugeot 306?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Peugeot 306 is 2008 with a 77.8% pass rate across 63 tests.