Peugeot 405
From 764 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are 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, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin and bush or joint excessively worn. The top issue, 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, caused 70 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| 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 | 70 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 59 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 29 |
| 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. | 28 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 27 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 22 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 22 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 22 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 18 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 18 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 36.2% of 405 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 33.7% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £183.
Peugeot 405 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 102 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 102. At this rate, roughly 25.5 years until none remain. Now at 0.9% of its peak (292,985 in 1996 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 208 | 2,439 | +0 | -19 | -19 |
| 2025 Q2 | 204 | 2,462 | +0 | -10 | -10 |
| 2025 Q1 | 210 | 2,466 | +0 | -29 | -29 |
| 2024 Q4 | 225 | 2,480 | +0 | -44 | -44 |
| 2024 Q3 | 241 | 2,508 | +0 | -18 | -18 |
| 2024 Q2 | 257 | 2,510 | +0 | -27 | -27 |
| 2024 Q1 | 269 | 2,525 | +0 | -30 | -30 |
| 2023 Q4 | 284 | 2,540 | +0 | -8 | -8 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 66.7% | 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, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1994 | 71.5% | steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
| 1993 | 75.5% | steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
Typical mileage
Half of all 405s tested had between 98,122 and 189,617 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 122,130 median miles, the 405 has 0.026 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 405 MOT pass rate?
The Peugeot 405 has a 68.8% MOT pass rate based on 764 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Peugeot 405?
The most common MOT failure on the Peugeot 405 is 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, which caused 70 failures. Other common issues include steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
How many Peugeot 405s are on UK roads?
There are 208 Peugeot 405s currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,439 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Peugeot 405 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Peugeot 405 is 122,130 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 98,122 and 189,617 miles.
Buying a used 405?
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 68.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £183 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 36.2% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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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.