2003 Peugeot 206 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 60,466 MOT tests, the 2003 Peugeot 206 recorded a 69.4% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (29.3% fail rate), the 2003 206 comes out 1.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.8% of tests against 14.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 4,767 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.9% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 30.3% of the time against 31.6% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.2% in 2021 to 29.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.8% | 12,570 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.2% | 8,611 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.2% | 7,954 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 5,475 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 4,981 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.0% | 4,230 |
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 | 4,767 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,680 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 3,998 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 3,544 |
| 5 | Wipers | 3,235 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 2,982 |
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 | 33.3% | 20,108 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.1% | 19,989 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.8% | 17,428 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.9% | 11,460 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.1% | 10,976 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.2% | 10,379 |
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 | 1,595 | 16.8% |
| 30-60k | 11,977 | 25.7% |
| 60-90k | 20,512 | 30.1% |
| 90-120k | 16,267 | 33.2% |
| 120-150k | 6,769 | 35.2% |
| 150k+ | 3,279 | 35.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 47,942 | 30.3% |
| Diesel | 12,524 | 31.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,478 | 31.2% |
| 2022 | 14,690 | 30.6% |
| 2023 | 11,376 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 8,561 | 30.8% |
| 2025 | 6,361 | 29.3% |
What to check before buying a 2003 206
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.2% 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.
- Brakes (13.2% 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 2003 Peugeot 206s pass their MOT?
69.4% of the 60,466 2003 Peugeot 206 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Peugeot 206?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.8% of tests, followed by suspension (14.2%).
Does the 2003 206 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.8% in the 0-30k band to 35.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 60,466 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.