1998 Peugeot 406 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,984 MOT tests, the 1998 Peugeot 406 recorded a 72.9% pass rate. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (27.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.8%) and brakes (12.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 142 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 29.2% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 26.9% of the time against 27.2% for petrol.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.7% in 2021 to 25.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 253 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.5% | 248 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.4% | 206 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 148 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 117 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.4% | 107 |
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 | 142 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 117 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 116 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 102 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 100 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 93 |
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 | 34.2% | 678 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.5% | 644 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.3% | 541 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 26.8% | 532 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 306 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.2% | 301 |
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 | 148 | 20.3% |
| 60-90k | 360 | 25.3% |
| 90-120k | 412 | 25.5% |
| 120-150k | 463 | 29.4% |
| 150k+ | 514 | 29.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,321 | 27.2% |
| Diesel | 663 | 26.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 613 | 28.7% |
| 2022 | 480 | 26.7% |
| 2023 | 353 | 22.9% |
| 2024 | 299 | 30.1% |
| 2025 | 239 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a 1998 406
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.5% 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 (10.4% 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 1998 Peugeot 406s pass their MOT?
72.9% of the 1,984 1998 Peugeot 406 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Peugeot 406?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.8% of tests, followed by brakes (12.5%).
Does the 1998 406 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.3% in the 30-60k band to 29.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,984 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.