Peugeot 205 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Peugeot 205 appears in 21,982 MOT tests spanning model years 1980–2021, and 76.8% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail at 22.2%, so the 205 sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
Best and worst 205 years
Ranked across 205 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Build year matters more than the headline suggests: 1989 cars pass 78.9% of the time while 1994 cars manage 71.3%, a 7.6-point spread.
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests against 11.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and washers — service brake performance alone was recorded 1,662 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.5% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 21.9% fail against 27.9% for diesel, a 6.0-point gap across 21,982 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 25.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.9% in 2021 to 20.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 205 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 92 | 83.7% | 16.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1985 | 163 | 85.9% | 14.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1986 | 470 | 81.9% | 18.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 964 | 79.7% | 20.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 1,961 | 78.5% | 21.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 3,099 | 78.9% | 21.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 3,922 | 78.5% | 21.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 3,492 | 77.5% | 22.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 2,754 | 75.6% | 24.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 2,023 | 74.6% | 25.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 1,220 | 71.3% | 28.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 1,148 | 71.5% | 28.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 584 | 68.2% | 31.9% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 3,328 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 2,442 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.4% | 1,619 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.3% | 1,600 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 1,493 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 1,135 |
| 7 | Steering | 2.3% | 512 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.3% | 497 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 1,662 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,585 |
| 3 | Washers | 1,368 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 967 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 928 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 889 |
| 7 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 678 |
| 8 | Joints | 649 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 25.9% | 5,682 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.4% | 4,702 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 18.0% | 3,957 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.1% | 3,316 |
| 5 | Tyres | 13.3% | 2,927 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.5% | 2,299 |
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 | 695 | 13.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,341 | 20.2% |
| 60-90k | 4,928 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 5,962 | 23.1% |
| 120-150k | 4,549 | 24.1% |
| 150k+ | 3,392 | 26.5% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 17,364 | 21.9% |
| Diesel | 4,618 | 27.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,974 | 24.9% |
| 2022 | 4,704 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 4,439 | 23.4% |
| 2024 | 4,023 | 22.2% |
| 2025 | 3,842 | 20.8% |
What to check before buying a Peugeot 205
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.1% 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.
- Visibility (7.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Peugeot 205?
76.8% of the 21,982 Peugeot 205 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 23.2% fail rate, across model years 1980–2021.
What does the Peugeot 205 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, then brakes (11.1%).
Which 205 years are best and worst for MOT results?
1989 has the best pass rate at 78.9% and 1994 the weakest at 71.3%, from 3,099 and 1,220 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect 205 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 13.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 26.5% for 150k+, a 13.2-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel 205 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 21.9% of the time against 27.9% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,982 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.