1992 Peugeot 205 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1992 Peugeot 205 passed 75.6% of its 2,754 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.5 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.0% of all tests — 3.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and washers — service brake performance alone was recorded 221 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.0% versus 17.0%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 6.9pp more often than petrol ones (29.5% vs 22.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.9% in 2021 to 21.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 413 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.5% | 317 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 204 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.1% | 197 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.9% | 190 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 176 |
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 | 221 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 189 |
| 3 | Washers | 162 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 125 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 120 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 114 |
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 | 28.6% | 789 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.4% | 616 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 18.9% | 522 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.7% | 460 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.7% | 404 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.7% | 322 |
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 | 53 | 17.0% |
| 30-60k | 273 | 25.3% |
| 60-90k | 687 | 26.8% |
| 90-120k | 778 | 22.2% |
| 120-150k | 546 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 412 | 25.0% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,028 | 22.6% |
| Diesel | 726 | 29.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 631 | 26.9% |
| 2022 | 596 | 24.3% |
| 2023 | 547 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 510 | 24.9% |
| 2025 | 470 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 1992 205
On a 1992 205, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.5% 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 (7.4% 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 1992 Peugeot 205s pass their MOT?
75.6% of the 2,754 1992 Peugeot 205 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Peugeot 205?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by brakes (11.5%).
Does the 1992 205 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.0% in the 0-30k band to 25.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,754 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.