1999 Peugeot 406 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Peugeot 406 passed 72.6% of its 2,409 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 27.7%, so the 1999 406 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.0%) and suspension (12.0%) 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, headlamp aim and wipers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 173 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 406 fails 27.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 30.0% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.2 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 27.2% of the time against 27.7% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.3% in 2021 to 26.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 312 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.0% | 290 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.4% | 274 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 192 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.6% | 182 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 139 |
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 | 173 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 157 |
| 3 | Wipers | 142 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 105 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 104 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 98 |
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 | 35.4% | 854 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.1% | 773 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.7% | 595 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 23.5% | 566 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 396 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.7% | 379 |
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 | 36 | 27.8% |
| 30-60k | 145 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 381 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 515 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 495 | 26.9% |
| 150k+ | 801 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,396 | 27.2% |
| Diesel | 1,013 | 27.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 801 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 587 | 26.8% |
| 2023 | 424 | 26.2% |
| 2024 | 352 | 28.7% |
| 2025 | 245 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 1999 406
On a 1999 406, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (12.0% 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 (11.4% 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 1999 Peugeot 406s pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 2,409 1999 Peugeot 406 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Peugeot 406?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by suspension (12.0%).
Does the 1999 406 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,409 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.