2000 Peugeot 206 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,407 MOT tests, the 2000 Peugeot 206 recorded a 67.7% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (29.4% fail rate), the 2000 206 comes out 2.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.1% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and stop lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 2,159 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 35.8% versus 28.2%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 32.2% of the time against 33.0% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.5% in 2021 to 30.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 2,066 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 15.0% | 1,713 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.4% | 1,527 |
| 4 | Brakes | 12.8% | 1,460 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.6% | 1,325 |
| 6 | Visibility | 8.1% | 921 |
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 | 2,159 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 842 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 739 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 705 |
| 5 | Wipers | 682 |
| 6 | Joints | 617 |
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 | 37.0% | 4,216 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.1% | 4,003 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.8% | 3,167 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 25.2% | 2,876 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.1% | 2,295 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.6% | 1,549 |
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 | 805 | 28.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,748 | 29.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,633 | 32.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,317 | 34.7% |
| 120-150k | 962 | 35.1% |
| 150k+ | 453 | 35.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,257 | 32.2% |
| Diesel | 1,150 | 33.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,839 | 32.5% |
| 2022 | 2,826 | 32.3% |
| 2023 | 2,106 | 32.3% |
| 2024 | 1,532 | 32.8% |
| 2025 | 1,104 | 30.8% |
What to check before buying a 2000 206
On a 2000 206, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (15.0% 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 2000 Peugeot 206s pass their MOT?
67.7% of the 11,407 2000 Peugeot 206 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Peugeot 206?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.1% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (15.0%).
Does the 2000 206 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.2% in the 0-30k band to 35.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,407 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.