1999 Peugeot 206 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Peugeot 206 passed 67.8% of its 5,041 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (29.4% fail rate), the 1999 206 comes out 2.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.6% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, stop lamp and position lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 1,044 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 38.5% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 34.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 988 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 15.7% | 793 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.6% | 637 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.3% | 622 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.4% | 574 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.5% | 378 |
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 | 1,044 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 415 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 398 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 310 |
| 5 | Wipers | 304 |
| 6 | Joints | 276 |
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 | 34.3% | 1,730 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.6% | 1,692 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.8% | 1,302 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 24.7% | 1,246 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.5% | 933 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 767 |
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 | 293 | 20.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,373 | 30.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,495 | 32.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,174 | 33.7% |
| 120-150k | 350 | 35.4% |
| 150k+ | 182 | 38.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,566 | 32.3% |
| Diesel | 475 | 31.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,664 | 32.0% |
| 2022 | 1,222 | 32.3% |
| 2023 | 970 | 33.0% |
| 2024 | 685 | 32.4% |
| 2025 | 500 | 30.8% |
What to check before buying a 1999 206
On a 1999 206, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (15.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (12.6% 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.
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 1999 Peugeot 206s pass their MOT?
67.8% of the 5,041 1999 Peugeot 206 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Peugeot 206?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.6% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (15.7%).
Does the 1999 206 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.8% in the 0-30k band to 38.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,041 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.