1994 Peugeot 405 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1994 Peugeot 405 passed 75.3% of its 490 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail at 23.9%, so the 1994 405 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (12.7%) and lighting & signalling (10.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are steering rack, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — steering rack alone was recorded 43 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.5% in the 30-60k band and 24.8% in the 150k+ band, a 7.3-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.4% in 2021 to 21.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 12.7% | 62 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 50 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.8% | 48 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.4% | 41 |
| 5 | Steering | 8.2% | 40 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 36 |
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 | 43 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 39 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 36 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 32 |
| 5 | Wipers | 29 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 26 |
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 | 27.8% | 136 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.6% | 135 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 26.9% | 132 |
| 4 | Tyres | 20.4% | 100 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.7% | 82 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.7% | 62 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 40 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 94 | 22.3% |
| 90-120k | 72 | 29.2% |
| 120-150k | 78 | 25.6% |
| 150k+ | 202 | 24.8% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 364 | 25.8% |
| Petrol | 126 | 21.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 134 | 25.4% |
| 2022 | 112 | 24.1% |
| 2023 | 97 | 25.8% |
| 2024 | 77 | 26.0% |
| 2025 | 70 | 21.4% |
What to check before buying a 1994 405
On a 1994 405, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (12.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.8% 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 1994 Peugeot 405s pass their MOT?
75.3% of the 490 1994 Peugeot 405 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Peugeot 405?
Brakes, recorded in 12.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.2%).
Does the 1994 405 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.5% in the 30-60k band to 24.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 490 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.