2015 Peugeot 308 1.6L Diesel · LS15 DZX

A chronic pattern of front suspension and front brake deterioration defines this Peugeot 308's mechanical profile, with the front axle components appearing repeatedly across every MOT entry for the past three years. The most recent test on 11 August 2026 was a pass, but only after a same-day failure, and the advisory list was entirely populated by front-end wear items: pitted front brake discs, fluctuating front service brake performance, nearside and offside front suspension arm pins or bushes worn, and a nearside front tyre simultaneously at the legal limit, edge worn, and cracking. The 2025 test carried a virtually identical cluster of advisories, confirming the front axle has been steadily degrading year on year rather than being addressed. The 2024 entry first introduced the front suspension arm bush wear on both sides, alongside a minor failure for a severely deteriorated offside drive shaft CV boot, suggesting the undercarriage has been working hard and the front-end geometry components are nearing the end of their service life. With 121,359 miles recorded across roughly eleven years, this 308 averages around 11,033 miles annually, a rate broadly consistent with typical UK driving patterns. The mileage progression between tests, combined with the absence of any significant lay-up gaps in the DVSA record, indicates continuous use rather than periods of standing. Mechanically, this kind of sustained mileage accelerates wear on exactly the components flagged here: front suspension bushes and pivot joints, front brake discs and pads, tyre shoulders, and drivetrain gaiters. The fact that no structural corrosion, exhaust integrity issues, or rear axle problems have surfaced across three consecutive tests is a positive indicator, suggesting the bulk of the wear is concentrated at the heavily loaded front end rather than being symptomatic of general vehicle deterioration. For a prospective buyer, the front suspension arm pins and bushes warrant close physical inspection. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over speed humps, rough surfaces, and during full-lock manoeuvres, and feel for any vagueness or knocking through the steering wheel when traversing potholes. The worn bush condition not resulting in excessive movement today could easily progress to a fail within months given the mileage trajectory, so a thorough garage inspection with the vehicle on a ramp is essential to gauge how much residual life remains in the front wishbones and anti-roll bar linkages. The front braking system requires equally careful evaluation. Pulsating or vibrating feedback through the brake pedal under firm application is the classic symptom of the pitted and scored front discs already noted, and uneven braking effort or pulling to one side under heavy pedal pressure would indicate caliper issues compounding the disc wear. The fluctuating service brake performance advisory reinforces the need to check for binding calipers or seized slide pins. Finally, inspect the offside drive shaft CV boot repaired since the 2024 minor failure for any fresh grease leakage or splits, and examine all four tyres for shoulder wear, cracking, and sidewall damage, as the recurring tyre advisories on both front and rear positions suggest the tracking or suspension geometry may be accelerating uneven tyre consumption.