1993 Peugeot 405 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 306 MOT tests, the 1993 Peugeot 405 recorded a 73.5% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (23.5% fail rate), the 1993 405 comes out 2.9pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (14.1%) and body, structure & corrosion (12.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are steering rack, service brake performance and joints — steering rack alone was recorded 29 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.1% in the 60-90k band and 27.6% in the 150k+ band, a 4.5-point spread.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 35.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.5% in 2021 to 13.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.1% | 43 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.4% | 38 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 31 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.5% | 26 |
| 5 | Suspension | 8.5% | 26 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.2% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steering rack | 29 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 27 |
| 3 | Joints | 22 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 19 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 15 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 13 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 35.0% | 107 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.7% | 94 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.5% | 81 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.9% | 58 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.3% | 53 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.7% | 45 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 39 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 58 | 31.0% |
| 120-150k | 75 | 24.0% |
| 150k+ | 116 | 27.6% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 196 | 22.4% |
| Petrol | 110 | 33.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89 | 31.5% |
| 2022 | 74 | 27.0% |
| 2023 | 61 | 26.2% |
| 2024 | 46 | 26.1% |
| 2025 | 36 | 13.9% |
What to check before buying a 1993 405
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 14.1% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.4% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Lighting & signalling (10.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 1993 Peugeot 405s pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 306 1993 Peugeot 405 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Peugeot 405?
Brakes, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.4%).
Does the 1993 405 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.1% in the 60-90k band to 27.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 306 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.