1996 Peugeot 106 — MOT failures & pass rate
1,600 MOT tests on the 1996 Peugeot 106 are in this dataset, and 69.8% of them passed. Against city cars of a similar age (25.7% fail rate), the 1996 106 comes out 4.5pp worse. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (13.8%) and brakes (13.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 299 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 34.0% versus 20.3%.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 1.9pp more often than diesel ones (30.9% vs 29.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 26.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 13.8% | 221 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.1% | 210 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 200 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 194 |
| 5 | Suspension | 10.6% | 170 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.6% | 105 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 299 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 139 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 134 |
| 4 | Joints | 89 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 88 |
| 6 | Wipers | 80 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 26.4% | 422 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.6% | 394 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.4% | 390 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.8% | 300 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.7% | 267 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 197 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 69 | 20.3% |
| 30-60k | 388 | 26.8% |
| 60-90k | 497 | 30.8% |
| 90-120k | 376 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 170 | 35.9% |
| 150k+ | 100 | 34.0% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,021 | 30.9% |
| Diesel | 579 | 29.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 433 | 30.9% |
| 2022 | 354 | 29.7% |
| 2023 | 312 | 26.3% |
| 2024 | 269 | 33.5% |
| 2025 | 232 | 31.5% |
What to check before buying a 1996 106
On a 1996 106, emissions & environmental is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Emissions & environmental (13.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (13.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1996 Peugeot 106s pass their MOT?
69.8% of the 1,600 1996 Peugeot 106 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Peugeot 106?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 13.8% of tests, followed by brakes (13.1%).
Does the 1996 106 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.3% in the 0-30k band to 34.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,600 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.