2016 Peugeot 308 1.6L Petrol · FX16 DWD

A pattern of isolated but specific MOT failures, most recently resolved with a clean pass on 17 July 2026, defines the roadworthiness profile of this 2016 Peugeot 308. Across six tests spanning 2022 to 2026, the vehicle has accumulated two failures and a small cluster of advisories, with the two most recent tests in July 2025 and July 2026 bookending a brief period of front-end wear. The May 2023 failure was triggered by a restricted driver's view through the windscreen and both headlamp aim defects, which are typically straightforward rectification items rather than indicators of structural concern. The earlier April 2022 failure involved an exhaust carbon monoxide exceedance, a classic emissions issue on higher-mileage petrol or diesel units that can recur if the catalytic converter or lambda sensor degrades. The intervening 2024 and mid-2023 tests passed without defects, suggesting the vehicle has otherwise maintained a respectable pass rate, though the front-end advisories concentrated in 2025 are worth dissecting. At 98,725 miles over roughly a decade of recorded testing, this 308 has covered approximately 9,800 miles per year on average, a rate consistent with regular mixed-use commuting rather than gentle second-car or long-term storage duty. There are no large gaps between tests indicative of the vehicle being off the road, and the mileage progression between recorded tests is steady rather than spiking, which limits the likelihood of major neglect from extended standing. That said, 98,725 miles is a substantial figure for a ten-year-old European hatchback, particularly one of this generation, where wear on suspension linkages, engine mountings, turbocharger components (if applicable to the specific variant), clutch assembly, and dual-mass flywheel becomes increasingly probable as the odometer climbs beyond the 90,000-mile threshold. The mileage alone justifies close mechanical inspection of drivetrain and chassis items regardless of what the MOT record formally flags. The cluster of advisories from the 2025 tests warrants particular attention. Both front tyres were noted as worn close to the legal limit and on both edges, a wear pattern that typically indicates either incorrect inflation pressures, worn front suspension components allowing geometry drift, or aggressive cornering on degraded dampers. The nearside front tyre also carried a sidewall cut, and although it was not deep enough to reach the cords at the time of test, sidewall damage can propagate under load and should be examined closely for bulging or cracking. Front brake pads were recorded as wearing thin, and combined with the edge tyre wear, this points to either a recent brake component replacement that has now bedded in, or conversely, pads approaching the minimum material level with discs likely to follow. The front undertray was noted as not fully secure, which on a Peugeot 308 can expose underbody components to water and road debris and may also indicate missing or stripped fasteners that warrant a closer look at engine sump shielding and bumper undertray integrity. On a physical inspection and test drive, particular attention should be paid to the front suspension geometry, as the edge tyre wear pattern is the kind of finding that often correlates with worn wishbone bushes, top mount deterioration, or failing drop links. Listen and feel for knocking over uneven surfaces, vague steering response, or a pulling drift that may indicate the camber or castor settings are out of specification. With thin front brake pads recorded, the discs should be measured for minimum thickness and checked for lipping or binding caliper behaviour, including any judder under braking or a tendency for the vehicle to pull one way under sustained pedal pressure. Given the exhaust carbon monoxide failure in 2022, the current exhaust system should be inspected for blowing joints, a degraded catalytic converter, and any signs of lambda sensor or engine management faults, with attention to rough idle, hesitation under throttle, or an illuminated emissions warning lamp. The headlamp aim issues from 2023 should not recur if correctly adjusted, but verifying that both projector units are set symmetrically and that the headlamp lenses are not heavily oxidised remains worthwhile.