Peugeot 406 MOT pass rate & common failures
27,228 MOT tests on the Peugeot 406 (1995–2019) give it a 71.6% pass rate. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (27.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.4%) and brakes (13.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,870 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.8% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (29.1% vs 26.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.0% in 2021 to 27.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 406 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 361 | 74.8% | 25.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 1,048 | 72.0% | 28.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 1,984 | 72.9% | 27.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 2,409 | 72.6% | 27.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 3,725 | 71.4% | 28.6% | Suspension |
| 2001 | 5,127 | 71.8% | 28.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 5,372 | 71.8% | 28.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 5,589 | 70.3% | 29.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 1,527 | 71.6% | 28.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 4,200 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.2% | 3,590 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.9% | 3,509 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 2,393 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.1% | 1,671 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 1,324 |
| 7 | Tyres | 4.8% | 1,301 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.2% | 1,152 |
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 | 1,870 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,668 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 1,535 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 1,420 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,310 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 1,249 |
| 7 | Wipers | 1,242 |
| 8 | Ball joint | 1,051 |
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 | 36.9% | 10,042 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.7% | 9,732 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.5% | 7,498 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.5% | 5,591 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 5,070 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.6% | 4,252 |
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 | 130 | 23.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,302 | 21.6% |
| 60-90k | 3,465 | 24.4% |
| 90-120k | 5,453 | 26.8% |
| 120-150k | 6,303 | 29.2% |
| 150k+ | 10,382 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 18,790 | 29.1% |
| Petrol | 8,438 | 26.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,492 | 29.0% |
| 2022 | 6,618 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 5,053 | 27.5% |
| 2024 | 3,961 | 29.2% |
| 2025 | 3,104 | 27.4% |
What to check before buying a Peugeot 406
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Suspension (12.9% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Peugeot 406?
71.6% of the 27,228 Peugeot 406 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 28.4% fail rate, across model years 1995–2019.
What does the Peugeot 406 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests, then brakes (13.2%).
How much does mileage affect 406 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 23.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 30.8% for 150k+, a 6.9-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel 406 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 26.7% of the time against 29.1% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,228 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.