2005 Peugeot 407 — MOT failures & pass rate
11,778 MOT tests on the 2005 Peugeot 407 are in this dataset, and 70.4% of them passed. Against large family cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2005 407 comes out 1.8pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.7%) and brakes (14.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are washers, ball joint and headlamp aim — washers alone was recorded 872 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.3% versus 26.4%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 29.1% of the time against 29.6% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 34.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 1,963 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.5% | 1,706 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.8% | 1,629 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.6% | 1,011 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.8% | 804 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 619 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 872 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 774 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 648 |
| 4 | Anti-lock braking system | 633 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 604 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 597 |
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 | 34.1% | 4,014 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.9% | 3,997 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.2% | 3,676 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.0% | 2,124 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.3% | 2,038 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.6% | 1,607 |
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 | 106 | 26.4% |
| 30-60k | 516 | 21.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,564 | 25.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,836 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 3,111 | 30.4% |
| 150k+ | 3,442 | 32.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,517 | 29.6% |
| Petrol | 1,261 | 29.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,073 | 29.7% |
| 2022 | 2,920 | 28.5% |
| 2023 | 2,158 | 29.7% |
| 2024 | 1,553 | 30.1% |
| 2025 | 1,074 | 31.1% |
What to check before buying a 2005 407
On a 2005 407, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.5% 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 (13.8% 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 2005 Peugeot 407s pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 11,778 2005 Peugeot 407 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Peugeot 407?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests, followed by brakes (14.5%).
Does the 2005 407 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,778 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.