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Puch Maxi Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Puch Maxi car check

Is the Puch Maxi reliable? We analysed 2,756 real MOT tests across 783 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,756 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.9%
Typical Mileage
4,540mi
Annual Mileage
68mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
56yrs

The Puch Maxi is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%., steering headbearing has excessive free play and position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Puch Maxi.

Puch Maxi Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Puch Maxi. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Puch Maxi MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Puch Maxi to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

76.8%
1987
88.2%
1986
87.9%
1985
86.7%
1984
83.1%
1983
90.7%
1982
90.1%
1981
84.6%
1980
85.8%
1979
85.1%
1978
91.7%
1977
87.7%
1976
84.7%
1975
85.1%
1974
89.5%
1973
91.3%
1972
88.1%
1971
91.3%
1970

Puch Maxi Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Puch Maxi fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 28
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 24
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 23
Roller brake test No brake control achieves an efficiency of 30%. 15
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 15
Horn not working 14
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 13
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 12
wheel bearings have excessive free play 11
Roller brake test Neither brake control achieves an efficiency of 25% 11

Puch Maxi Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Puch Maxi owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
17 mi/yr
Typical
68 mi/yr
Average
344 mi/yr
Heavy usage
209 mi/yr

Puch Maxi MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Puch Maxi year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1987 56 76.8% 3,707 5,556 6,408
1986 93 88.2% 2,053 4,568 8,644
1985 107 87.9% 2,723 3,620 5,900
1984 120 86.7% 834 3,567 5,188
1983 166 83.1% 3,588 4,485 6,400
1982 140 90.7% 2,354 4,426 7,024
1981 203 90.1% 1,634 3,157 6,512
1980 266 84.6% 2,376 4,033 5,568
1979 353 85.8% 2,368 4,233 6,191
1978 161 85.1% 1,417 3,215 5,381
1977 108 91.7% 2,194 4,416 8,228
1976 73 87.7% 1,533 4,203 8,210
1975 176 84.7% 2,661 4,232 7,661
1974 114 85.1% 3,157 6,183 9,354
1973 153 89.5% 899 3,898 6,118
1972 127 91.3% 4,314 6,001 7,838
1971 109 88.1% 3,360 6,177 11,090
1970 80 91.3% 3,488 5,314 8,303

How Long Does a Puch Maxi Last?

Based on 783 Puch Maxi vehicles on UK roads.

Average
34.4 years
Median
35.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
56 years

Puch Maxi Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Puch Maxi MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
4,540 mi
75th Percentile
6,964 mi
95th Percentile
11,651 mi
Max Recorded
109,108 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Puch Maxi

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1977

91.7% MOT pass rate from 108 tests

Year to avoid
1987

76.8% MOT pass rate from 56 tests

The best year to buy a used Puch Maxi is 1977, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.7% across 108 tests. The 1987 model year has the lowest pass rate at 76.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Puch Maxi Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Puch Maxi THIS CAR 86.9% 2,756 4,540 mi 56 yrs
Puch Unknown 89.6% 645 4,798 mi 47 yrs
Mini One Clubman Auto 85.3% 1,358 40,495 mi 17 yrs
Lincoln Town Car 73.7% 2,774 113,266 mi 38 yrs
Ford B-max Zetec 90.4% 1,410 46,459 mi — yrs

Compared to the Puch Unknown (89.6% pass rate) and the Mini One Clubman Auto (85.3% pass rate), the Puch Maxi sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Puch Maxi?

The Puch Maxi has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.9% across 2,756 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Puch Maxi are roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. (28 recorded failures), steering headbearing has excessive free play (24), and position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on (23). 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 Puch Maxi owner drives around 68 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 Puch Maxi models stay on UK roads for around 56 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.

Puch Maxi — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Puch Maxi reliable?
Based on 2,756 MOT tests, the Puch Maxi has a 86.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Puch Maxi?
The most common MOT failures are roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%., steering headbearing has excessive free play, and position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Puch Maxi do per year?
The typical Puch Maxi does around 68 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Puch Maxi last?
Most Puch Maxi models stay on UK roads for around 56 years based on our analysis of 783 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Puch Maxi?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Puch Maxi?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Puch Maxi is 1977 with a 91.7% pass rate across 108 tests.