1995 Peugeot 205 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,148 MOT tests, the 1995 Peugeot 205 recorded a 71.5% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), the 1995 205 comes out 4.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.6% of tests against 13.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 116 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.6% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 29.0% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.8% in 2021 to 26.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 214 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.4% | 154 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.2% | 140 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 122 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.7% | 111 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 63 |
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 | 116 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 105 |
| 3 | Washers | 81 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 68 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 64 |
| 6 | Wipers | 59 |
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 | 36.1% | 414 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.9% | 320 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.6% | 248 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.7% | 226 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.4% | 200 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.5% | 144 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 124 | 22.6% |
| 60-90k | 259 | 26.6% |
| 90-120k | 313 | 27.8% |
| 120-150k | 287 | 33.1% |
| 150k+ | 148 | 29.0% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 776 | 27.8% |
| Petrol | 372 | 29.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 288 | 28.8% |
| 2022 | 269 | 30.5% |
| 2023 | 244 | 29.1% |
| 2024 | 183 | 26.2% |
| 2025 | 164 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 1995 205
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.4% 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.
- Suspension (12.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 1995 Peugeot 205s pass their MOT?
71.5% of the 1,148 1995 Peugeot 205 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Peugeot 205?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.6% of tests, followed by brakes (13.4%).
Does the 1995 205 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.6% in the 30-60k band to 29.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,148 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.