Peugeot 205
From 8,932 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Older 205s fare better: 1996 models pass at 61.3% vs 74.1% for 1988.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements and brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.. The top issue, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, caused 387 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 387 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 385 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 300 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 238 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 227 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 214 |
| service brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 206 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 182 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 173 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 167 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 16.1% of 205 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 20.7% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £119.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 74.8% while Diesel versions pass at 69.2%, a 6 percentage point gap.
Peugeot 205 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 301 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 5 newly registered, a net loss of 296. At this rate, roughly 47.8 years until none remain. Now at 3.8% of its peak (374,676 in 1994 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 2,555 | 11,591 | +1 | -1 | +0 |
| 2025 Q2 | 2,572 | 11,574 | +1 | -3 | -2 |
| 2025 Q1 | 2,161 | 11,987 | +1 | -86 | -85 |
| 2024 Q4 | 2,191 | 12,042 | +2 | -211 | -209 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,634 | 11,808 | +0 | -73 | -73 |
| 2024 Q2 | 2,742 | 11,773 | +2 | -0 | +151 |
| 2024 Q1 | 2,382 | 11,982 | +1 | -248 | -247 |
| 2023 Q4 | 2,416 | 12,195 | +0 | -51 | -51 |
8 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 205 Gti | Diesel | 1,115 | 69% |
| 205 Cti Cabriolet | Petrol | 95 | 6% |
| 205 Gl | Diesel | 92 | 6% |
| 205 Cj Junior | Petrol | 89 | 5% |
| 205 Xs | Petrol | 64 | 4% |
| 205 Style | Diesel | 62 | 4% |
| 205 Gr | Petrol | 57 | 4% |
| 205 Grd | Diesel | 52 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 61.3% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. |
| 1995 | 67.3% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1994 | 71.4% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 1993 | 72.4% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. |
7 earlier years
| 1992 | 69.3% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 1991 | 75.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 1990 | 76.4% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 1989 | 76.5% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1988 | 74.1% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1987 | 71.1% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 1986 | 82.8% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all 205s tested had between 84,174 and 118,107 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 97,850 median miles, the 205 has 0.027 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Peugeot models
| Peugeot 208 | 75.2% |
| Peugeot Partner | 69.9% |
| Peugeot 3008 | 76.5% |
| Peugeot 308 | 71.6% |
| Peugeot 207 | 63.1% |
Common questions
What is the Peugeot 205 MOT pass rate?
The Peugeot 205 has a 73.7% MOT pass rate based on 8,932 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Peugeot 205?
The most common MOT failure on the Peugeot 205 is windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, which caused 387 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Peugeot 205s are on UK roads?
There are 2,555 Peugeot 205s currently licensed on UK roads, with 11,591 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Peugeot 205 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Peugeot 205 is 97,850 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 84,174 and 118,107 miles.
Buying a used 205?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 73.7% pass rate and an average repair bill of £119 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.