1998 Peugeot 206 — MOT failures & pass rate
694 MOT tests on the 1998 Peugeot 206 are in this dataset, and 65.1% of them passed. That is 5.6 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 29.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (20.5%) and emissions & environmental (17.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and stop lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 177 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 26.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 39.4% once past 120-150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 38.0% in 2021 to 35.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.5% | 142 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 17.6% | 122 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.4% | 93 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 87 |
| 5 | Brakes | 12.4% | 86 |
| 6 | Visibility | 8.6% | 60 |
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 | 177 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 72 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 70 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 59 |
| 5 | Wipers | 45 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 33 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 37.8% | 262 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.9% | 242 |
| 3 | Tyres | 33.4% | 232 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 26.7% | 185 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.5% | 142 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 112 |
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 | 42 | 26.2% |
| 30-60k | 198 | 31.8% |
| 60-90k | 172 | 33.1% |
| 90-120k | 152 | 38.8% |
| 120-150k | 66 | 39.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 624 | 34.5% |
| Diesel | 70 | 38.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 234 | 38.0% |
| 2022 | 164 | 31.7% |
| 2023 | 119 | 33.6% |
| 2024 | 95 | 33.7% |
| 2025 | 82 | 35.4% |
What to check before buying a 1998 206
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (17.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (13.4% 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 1998 Peugeot 206s pass their MOT?
65.1% of the 694 1998 Peugeot 206 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Peugeot 206?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.5% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (17.6%).
Does the 1998 206 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.2% in the 0-30k band to 39.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 694 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.