2018 Peugeot 308 1.5L Diesel · FN68 DZY

The 2018 Peugeot 308 presents a pattern of recurring mechanical advisories rather than a single catastrophic failure, with three distinct phases emerging across its eight-year history. From October 2021 through August 2026, the vehicle has repeatedly triggered warnings related to the front suspension system and front tyres, including worn suspension arm pins or bushes, excessively worn anti-roll bar linkage ball joints, and increasingly severe tyre wear that approached legal limits. Despite these persistent issues, the car managed to achieve a clean MOT on 7 August 2026, suggesting that the current condition is acceptable for road travel while the underlying problems remain unresolved. The latest test result confirms the vehicle passes the standards, yet the lingering advisories indicate that the fundamental mechanical concerns have not been fully corrected and will continue to affect reliability until addressed. At 84,205 miles on the odometer, the Peugeot accumulates approximately 10,526 miles per year, which aligns with typical usage for a model of this age and fits the mileage progression documented across the MOT history. The spacing between successive tests ranges from nearly seven months to over two years, with the most notable gap occurring after the 2021 failure before the next assessment in mid-2022. This irregular testing cadence does not necessarily indicate poor maintenance but rather a fragmented ownership situation where the vehicle was occasionally taken out of regular service. Combined with the high annual mileage figure, the cumulative effect on the suspension and tyres would be substantial, particularly given the frequency of front-end component warnings that suggest gradual degradation rather than sudden breakdown. The front suspension system appears to be the primary concern requiring immediate attention. The repeated advisories for worn offside front suspension arm pins or bushes—recorded in 2023, 2024, 2025, and most recently 2026—point to progressive fatigue in the control arm bushings or pins themselves, even when they are not currently causing excessive movement. During a test drive, the buyer should listen for any knocking or clunking over bumps, particularly when the vehicle encounters potholes or rough pavement surfaces, and feel for any unusual resistance or vibration in the front wheel assembly when braking. The anti-roll bar linkage ball joint issue identified in August 2023 also warrants scrutiny: inspect the steering rack for play or looseness, and note whether the front wheels exhibit any subtle pulling or wobble during lateral cornering. These indicators suggest the suspension geometry could be compromised, leading to increased tire wear and potential handling instability. The front tyres present equally concerning conditions throughout the record. A near-limit wearing in October 2021 (5.2.3 e) was followed by additional damage noted in the August 2026 MOT, where the near-side front tyre showed tread depth below the required 1.6mm specification. This progression indicates that the tyres are experiencing accelerated wear on one side, likely due to the same suspension alignment issues affecting the contact patch. On a test drive, the buyer should pay particular attention to the right-front tyre (near-side) during turns and straight-line cruising, watching for soft or uneven tread wear, sidewall bulging, or a feeling of reduced grip compared to the other wheels. Given the proximity to legal limits and the historical tendency toward deterioration, replacing the tyres promptly and verifying that the suspension geometry has been corrected will be essential to restoring safe running characteristics and preventing premature failure of the adjacent components.