Peugeot 406 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Peugeot 406 car check
Is the Peugeot 406 reliable? We analysed 2,150,418 real MOT tests across 237,401 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Peugeot 406? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Peugeot 406 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Peugeot 406.
Peugeot 406 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Peugeot 406. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Peugeot 406 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Peugeot 406 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Peugeot 406 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Peugeot 406 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Peugeot 406 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Peugeot 406 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Peugeot 406 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Peugeot 406 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 56 | 75.0% | 49,260 | 85,021 | 134,586 |
| 2006 | 173 | 65.9% | 51,076 | 80,433 | 116,506 |
| 2005 | 184 | 68.5% | 64,864 | 90,604 | 124,831 |
| 2004 | 35,734 | 68.4% | 68,059 | 103,000 | 145,020 |
| 2003 | 171,190 | 69.3% | 69,568 | 103,810 | 144,035 |
| 2002 | 255,596 | 68.7% | 71,432 | 102,934 | 140,667 |
| 2001 | 323,025 | 68.3% | 78,041 | 108,789 | 145,257 |
| 2000 | 338,452 | 67.8% | 85,058 | 114,296 | 149,107 |
| 1999 | 320,363 | 67.4% | 86,252 | 113,370 | 146,248 |
| 1998 | 307,851 | 66.4% | 89,805 | 116,325 | 146,823 |
| 1997 | 255,823 | 65.2% | 95,436 | 122,232 | 152,405 |
| 1996 | 139,463 | 64.5% | 96,142 | 121,521 | 151,027 |
| 1995 | 1,723 | 64.6% | 83,389 | 103,182 | 127,116 |
| 1992 | 53 | 64.2% | 66,509 | 93,021 | 131,891 |
| 1971 | 194 | 63.4% | 99,764 | 120,532 | 143,534 |
How Long Does a Peugeot 406 Last?
Based on 237,401 Peugeot 406 vehicles on UK roads.
Peugeot 406 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Peugeot 406 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Peugeot 406
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
75.0% MOT pass rate from 56 tests
63.4% MOT pass rate from 194 tests
The best year to buy a used Peugeot 406 is 2007, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 75.0% across 56 tests. The 1971 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Peugeot 406 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peugeot 406 THIS CAR | 67.3% | 2,150,418 | 113,241 mi | 30 yrs |
| Peugeot 206 | 67.7% | 9,831,622 | 65,066 mi | 28 yrs |
| Peugeot 307 | 67.5% | 5,095,133 | 73,548 mi | 25 yrs |
| Peugeot 207 | 70.9% | 4,554,199 | 59,259 mi | 20 yrs |
| Hyundai I10 | 80.4% | 2,829,935 | 35,978 mi | 18 yrs |
Compared to the Peugeot 206 (67.7% pass rate) and the Peugeot 307 (67.5% pass rate), the Peugeot 406 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Peugeot 406 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Peugeot 406Should you buy a used Peugeot 406?
The Peugeot 406 has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.3% across 2,150,418 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Peugeot 406 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (164,607 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (96,011), and position lamp(s) not working (72,635). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Peugeot 406 owner drives around 7,570 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Peugeot 406 models stay on UK roads for around 30 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.