Peugeot 406
From 5,928 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
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, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. 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 378 failures in 2024. 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 | 378 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 348 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 279 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 218 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 211 |
| 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. | 171 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 158 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 158 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 154 |
| lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 117 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 27.2% of 406 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 40.3% 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 £150.
Peugeot 406 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 1,110 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 3 newly registered, a net loss of 1,107. At this rate, roughly 9.7 years until none remain. Now at 4.4% of its peak (243,381 in 2003 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 2,209 | 8,567 | +0 | -138 | -138 |
| 2025 Q2 | 2,311 | 8,603 | +0 | -145 | -145 |
| 2025 Q1 | 2,426 | 8,633 | +0 | -366 | -366 |
| 2024 Q4 | 2,629 | 8,796 | +3 | -461 | -458 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,805 | 9,078 | +1 | -291 | -290 |
| 2024 Q2 | 2,956 | 9,217 | +21 | -192 | -171 |
| 2024 Q1 | 3,109 | 9,235 | +39 | -238 | -199 |
| 2023 Q4 | 3,311 | 9,232 | +1 | -202 | -201 |
11 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 406 Rapier Hdi (90) | Diesel | 226 | 19% |
| 406 Lx Hdi (110) | Petrol | 177 | 15% |
| 406 S Hdi (90) | Diesel | 131 | 11% |
| 406 Lx | Diesel | 127 | 11% |
| 406 S Hdi (110) | Diesel | 106 | 9% |
| 406 Lx Hdi (90) | Diesel | 102 | 8% |
| 406 Glx Hdi (110) | Diesel | 86 | 7% |
| 406 Glx | Gas | 74 | 6% |
| 406 Rapier Hdi (110) | Diesel | 62 | 5% |
| 406 Glx Family | Petrol | 57 | 5% |
| 406 Executve Hdi (110) | Diesel | 56 | 5% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 63.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 2003 | 63% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 |
| 2002 | 63.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2001 | 64.9% | 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 |
5 earlier years
| 2000 | 66.4% | 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, exhaust system leaking or insecure |
| 1999 | 65.9% | 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 |
| 1998 | 63.8% | 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, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 1997 | 72.1% | 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 |
| 1996 | 76.4% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
Typical mileage
Half of all 406s tested had between 98,602 and 174,228 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 126,960 median miles, the 406 has 0.028 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 406 MOT pass rate?
The Peugeot 406 has a 65% MOT pass rate based on 5,928 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Peugeot 406?
The most common MOT failure on the Peugeot 406 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 378 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Peugeot 406s are on UK roads?
There are 2,209 Peugeot 406s currently licensed on UK roads, with 8,567 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Peugeot 406 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Peugeot 406 is 126,960 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 98,602 and 174,228 miles.
Buying a used 406?
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 65% pass rate and an average repair bill of £150 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 27.2% 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.