Small car · 1998–2020 cars

Peugeot 206 reliability

The Peugeot 206 fails 48.5% of first MOT tests, 20% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 187,808 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Below averageReliability score 32/100#36 of 63 small cars

Checking a Peugeot 206 before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 48.5%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 20% more; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 187,808; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 6,000; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

What this means for buyers

The Peugeot 206 is a below-average model for MOT results. 48.5% fail their first MOT, against 28.4% for all cars. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage, it has 20% more MOT fails, and it ranks 36 of 63 small car models. The 2004 cars did best, with 15% more MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage, while 1999 cars did worst at 46% more. Exhaust, emissions and leaks is the weakest area, with 50% more fails than comparable cars.

A 206 can still be a good buy if you check it properly. Ask for the MOT history and look for repeated advisories. Then focus on the common failures: a position lamp not working, a wiper blade not clearing the windscreen, a major exhaust gas leak, and a worn suspension ball joint.

MOT fail rate by age

How the Peugeot 206 ages

Each point is the share of Peugeot 206s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Peugeot 206All cars

Peugeot 206 first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Peugeot 206	All cars
12	39.6%	37.3%
13	44.6%	39.5%
14	44%	41.1%
15	46.2%	42.3%
16	47.1%	42.9%
17	47.1%	43.4%
18	48.2%	43.5%
19	48.3%	43.4%
20	51%	42.8%
21	50.9%	41.4%
22	50.4%	40.6%
23	51.9%	38.9%
24	52.5%	37.1%
25	57%	35.8%

By year

The best and worst Peugeot 206 years

2004 cars come out best and 1999 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Peugeot 206 MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2009 206	2,191	45%	20% more fails	77,385
2008 206	4,553	46.8%	24% more fails	72,564
2007 206	10,459	44.7%	18% more fails	70,743
2006 206	26,552	47.4%	17% more fails	80,913
2005 206	37,198	47.4%	15% more fails	83,176
2004 206	38,400	47.4%	15% more fails	83,621
2003 206	27,550	50.2%	22% more fails	83,888
2002 206	20,112	51.5%	28% more fails	83,398
2001 206	12,384	50.1%	28% more fails	77,557
2000 206	5,116	52.5%	39% more fails	75,133
1999 206	2,772	52.4%	46% more fails	74,720
1998	327	54.7%	54% more fails	73,677

Common problems

What fails most on a Peugeot 206

Its weak spot is exhaust, emissions and leaks: 50% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics25.3%33% above avg
Suspension19%28% above avg
Brakes14.1%20% above avg
Body, chassis and structure11.5%45% above avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks9.4%50% above avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors9.3%29% above avg
Tyres7.6%22% above avg
Steering4%21% above avg
Seat belts and airbags2.8%14% above avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 6.36% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 4.64% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
3
Exhaust has major gas leak 4.27% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
4
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 3.66% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
5
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 3.61% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
6
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed 3.06% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
7
Rear fog lamp not working 2.94% of tests
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
8
Dipped beam headlamp not working 2.92% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Peugeot 206's MOT certificate most often.

Engine oil leak, not excessive16.05%
Tyre worn close to legal limit14.56%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking13.08%
Brake disc pitted or scored11.8%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy9.12%
Exhaust has minor gas leak8.09%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Peugeot 206

1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
3
Exhaust has major gas leak
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
4
Suspension ball joint excessively worn
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Peugeot 206 covers about 6,000 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Petrol80%
Diesel20%
LPG0%
Electric0%

Most common colours

Silver, Blue, Black, Red, Grey

Average engine size: 1.4 litres.

Compare

How the Peugeot 206 compares with its rivals

Peugeot 206 against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Ford Fusion	40.6%	3% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Kia Venga	26%	15% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot 206	48.5%	20% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford B-Max	27.2%	22% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Fiat Punto	44.5%	24% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Citroën DS3	46%	51% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Dacia Sandero	30.8%	62% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every small car ranked in the small car reliability index, or all Peugeot models.

Questions

Peugeot 206 questions, answered

Is the Peugeot 206 reliable?

On MOT results, the Peugeot 206 is below average: it fails 48.5% of first MOT tests, 20% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 36 of 63 small car models in our index.

What fails most on a Peugeot 206 MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Peugeot 206 are position lamp not working (6.36% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (4.64% of tests), exhaust has major gas leak (4.27% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 25.3% of its tests.

Which Peugeot 206 year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2004 cars do best (15% more MOT fails than the average car its age) and 1999 cars do worst (46% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Peugeot 206 do a year?

A typical Peugeot 206 covers about 6,000 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Peugeot 206 before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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