1998 Peugeot 106 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,698 MOT tests, the 1998 Peugeot 106 recorded a 72.0% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 26.8% of the time, so this is 1.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (14.6%) and brakes (11.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and component mounting prescribed areas — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 933 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.2% in the 0-30k band and 31.6% in the 150k+ band, a 12.4-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.0% of the time against 28.4% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.3% in 2021 to 27.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 14.6% | 687 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.9% | 561 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 552 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.1% | 426 |
| 5 | Suspension | 7.7% | 362 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.8% | 273 |
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 | 933 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 347 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 294 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 221 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 214 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 188 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.8% | 1,069 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.2% | 996 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.1% | 990 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.1% | 711 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.0% | 706 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.5% | 446 |
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 | 250 | 19.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,178 | 26.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,476 | 32.0% |
| 90-120k | 952 | 26.4% |
| 120-150k | 546 | 27.8% |
| 150k+ | 272 | 31.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,832 | 28.0% |
| Diesel | 866 | 28.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,363 | 30.3% |
| 2022 | 1,045 | 26.6% |
| 2023 | 896 | 28.7% |
| 2024 | 737 | 25.4% |
| 2025 | 657 | 27.7% |
What to check before buying a 1998 106
On a 1998 106, emissions & environmental is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Emissions & environmental (14.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (11.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 1998 Peugeot 106s pass their MOT?
72.0% of the 4,698 1998 Peugeot 106 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Peugeot 106?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by brakes (11.9%).
Does the 1998 106 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.2% in the 0-30k band to 31.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,698 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.