2001 Peugeot 206 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Peugeot 206 passed 69.5% of its 27,208 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 29.5% of the time, so this is 1.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.1% of tests against 14.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and exhaust system — position lamp alone was recorded 2,320 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 24.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.8% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 30.3% of the time against 31.8% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.1% | 5,211 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 3,842 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.5% | 3,685 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 2,724 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.8% | 2,125 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 2,042 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 2,320 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 1,884 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 1,630 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 1,603 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,444 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 1,264 |
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 | 38.1% | 10,366 |
| 2 | Brakes | 37.7% | 10,266 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.3% | 7,712 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 24.4% | 6,640 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.7% | 5,097 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 4,148 |
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 | 1,589 | 24.5% |
| 30-60k | 5,929 | 26.2% |
| 60-90k | 8,815 | 30.4% |
| 90-120k | 6,001 | 33.2% |
| 120-150k | 2,319 | 34.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,148 | 34.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 23,939 | 30.3% |
| Diesel | 3,269 | 31.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,605 | 31.0% |
| 2022 | 6,624 | 30.6% |
| 2023 | 5,138 | 30.2% |
| 2024 | 3,926 | 30.7% |
| 2025 | 2,915 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a 2001 206
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.1% 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 (13.5% 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 2001 Peugeot 206s pass their MOT?
69.5% of the 27,208 2001 Peugeot 206 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Peugeot 206?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.1% of tests, followed by brakes (14.1%).
Does the 2001 206 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.5% in the 0-30k band to 34.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,208 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.