1990 Peugeot 205 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,922 MOT tests, the 1990 Peugeot 205 recorded a 78.5% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail at 21.8%, so the 1990 205 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.4% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 260 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.6% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.1% in 2021 to 19.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 564 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.4% | 410 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.9% | 271 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.8% | 267 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 252 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 182 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 260 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 253 |
| 3 | Washers | 236 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 178 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 168 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 156 |
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 | 24.0% | 941 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.8% | 817 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 18.1% | 709 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.8% | 581 |
| 5 | Tyres | 11.3% | 445 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.7% | 418 |
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 | 86 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 382 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 850 | 21.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,104 | 20.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,011 | 22.3% |
| 150k+ | 474 | 26.6% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,649 | 21.3% |
| Diesel | 273 | 23.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 843 | 23.1% |
| 2022 | 870 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 765 | 19.9% |
| 2024 | 725 | 20.0% |
| 2025 | 719 | 19.8% |
What to check before buying a 1990 205
On a 1990 205, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.4% 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 (6.9% 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
How many 1990 Peugeot 205s pass their MOT?
78.5% of the 3,922 1990 Peugeot 205 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Peugeot 205?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by brakes (10.4%).
Does the 1990 205 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 26.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,922 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.