2004 Peugeot 407 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Peugeot 407 passed 71.8% of its 3,245 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (28.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.1% of tests against 13.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, washers and headlamp — ball joint alone was recorded 211 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2004 407 fails 32.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 31.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.9 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 28.2% of the time against 28.4% for petrol.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.5% in 2021 to 26.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 556 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.7% | 446 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.7% | 443 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.1% | 229 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.6% | 215 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.1% | 198 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 211 |
| 2 | Washers | 204 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 194 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 186 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 168 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 141 |
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 | 36.1% | 1,173 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.0% | 1,070 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.8% | 998 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.3% | 692 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.3% | 463 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.3% | 400 |
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 | 34 | 32.4% |
| 30-60k | 261 | 21.5% |
| 60-90k | 649 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 841 | 27.5% |
| 120-150k | 751 | 30.4% |
| 150k+ | 643 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,312 | 28.2% |
| Petrol | 933 | 28.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,123 | 29.5% |
| 2022 | 812 | 27.2% |
| 2023 | 599 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 421 | 29.2% |
| 2025 | 290 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 2004 407
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.7% 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 (13.7% 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 2004 Peugeot 407s pass their MOT?
71.8% of the 3,245 2004 Peugeot 407 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Peugeot 407?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.1% of tests, followed by suspension (13.7%).
Does the 2004 407 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.4% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,245 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.