1995 Peugeot 405 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 605 MOT tests analysed for the 1995 Peugeot 405, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension. Its pass rate of 72.2% was below the average for cars of a similar age (77.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 28.0% in the 150k+ group versus 15.2% in the 30-60k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.1% | 85 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 77 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.2% | 74 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.8% | 59 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 57 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.1% | 37 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 90 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 61 |
| 3 | Steering rack | 55 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 36 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 30 |
| 6 | Washers | 29 |
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 | 30.1% | 182 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.9% | 175 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.6% | 137 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.0% | 103 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.7% | 101 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.6% | 64 |
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 | 33 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 81 | 28.4% |
| 90-120k | 122 | 31.1% |
| 120-150k | 165 | 27.9% |
| 150k+ | 200 | 28.0% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 384 | 27.1% |
| Petrol | 221 | 29.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 167 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 147 | 29.9% |
| 2023 | 120 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 89 | 24.7% |
| 2025 | 82 | 24.4% |
What to check before buying a 1995 405
Before buying a 1995 Peugeot 405, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 14.1% of tests for this year.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.2% 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.
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 1995 Peugeot 405s pass their MOT?
72.2% of the 605 1995 Peugeot 405 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Peugeot 405?
Brakes, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.7%).
Does the 1995 405 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.2% in the 30-60k band to 28.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 605 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.