1996 Peugeot 406 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1996 Peugeot 406 passed 74.8% of its 361 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.2 percentage points better than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.0%) and suspension (11.1%) 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 steering rack — headlamp aim alone was recorded 23 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.9% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 28.9% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 43.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 47 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.1% | 40 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.3% | 37 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.0% | 29 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 24 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.3% | 19 |
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 | 23 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 21 |
| 3 | Steering rack | 21 |
| 4 | Wipers | 18 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 15 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 15 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 43.2% | 156 |
| 2 | Tyres | 32.1% | 116 |
| 3 | Brakes | 30.5% | 110 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 26.0% | 94 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.7% | 53 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.7% | 46 |
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 | 32 | 21.9% |
| 60-90k | 60 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 81 | 23.5% |
| 120-150k | 92 | 27.2% |
| 150k+ | 83 | 28.9% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 224 | 25.4% |
| Diesel | 137 | 24.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 108 | 25.0% |
| 2022 | 98 | 31.6% |
| 2023 | 63 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 51 | 21.6% |
| 2025 | 41 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a 1996 406
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.1% 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 (10.3% 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 1996 Peugeot 406s pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 361 1996 Peugeot 406 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Peugeot 406?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by suspension (11.1%).
Does the 1996 406 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.9% in the 30-60k band to 28.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 361 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.