Large family car · 1996–2019 cars
Peugeot 406 reliability
The Peugeot 406 fails 44.2% of first MOT tests, 3% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 13,222 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Peugeot 406 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 44.2%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 3% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 13,222
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Peugeot 406 ages
Each point is the share of Peugeot 406s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Peugeot 406 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 44.6% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 45.5% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 46.2% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 45% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 43.2% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 42.2% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 44.1% | 37.1% |
| 25 | 39.7% | 35.8% |
By year
The best and worst Peugeot 406 years
2000 cars come out best and 1999 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 773 | 46.2% | 2% more fails | 135,052 |
| 2003 406 | 2,692 | 46.4% | 2% more fails | 142,923 |
| 2002 406 | 2,616 | 44.8% | 1% more fails | 137,538 |
| 2001 406 | 2,434 | 44.5% | 2% more fails | 136,953 |
| 2000 406 | 1,773 | 42.2% | 0% fewer fails | 135,685 |
| 1999 406 | 1,464 | 43.6% | 9% more fails | 122,437 |
| 1998 406 | 1,131 | 40.2% | 4% more fails | 121,102 |
| 1997 | 274 | 39.8% | 3% more fails | 121,186 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Peugeot 406
Its weak spot is seat belts and airbags: 55% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics20%6% below avg
- Brakes17.4%18% above avg
- Suspension16.8%2% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure11.8%9% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors7.9%4% above avg
- Tyres6.4%6% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks6.4%17% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags5.8%55% above avg
- Steering3.6%28% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 4.67% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 2
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 4.43% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 3
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 3.87% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 3.83% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 5
Exhaust has major gas leak 3.75% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 6
Position lamp not working 3.27% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 7
Stop lamp not working 2.81% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 8
Service brakes uneven across an axle 2.58% of tests
One wheel is braking much less than its pair, so the car may pull to one side and stop poorly.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Peugeot 406's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake disc pitted or scored17.65%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive16.34%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit15.39%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking8.52%
- Coil spring showing some corrosion7.84%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy7.59%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Peugeot 406
- 1
Parking brake efficiency below minimum
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 2
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 3
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 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 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
- Diesel68.2%
- Petrol31.7%
- LPG0.1%
Most common colours
Blue, Silver, Red, Green, Grey
Average engine size: 2.1 litres.
Compare
How the Peugeot 406 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Arteon | 11.9% | 25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Kia Stinger | 10.7% | 25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SEAT Exeo | 33.4% | 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Subaru Legacy | 36.7% | 10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Alfa Romeo 159 | 42.6% | about average for its age |
| Peugeot 406 | 44.2% | 3% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën DS5 | 36.6% | 15% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every large family car ranked in the large family car reliability index, or all Peugeot models.
Questions
Peugeot 406 questions, answered
Is the Peugeot 406 reliable?
On MOT results, the Peugeot 406 is about average: it fails 44.2% of first MOT tests, 3% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 24 of 29 large family car models in our index.
What fails most on a Peugeot 406 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Peugeot 406 are parking brake efficiency below minimum (4.67% of tests), suspension mounting area seriously corroded (4.43% of tests), headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect (3.87% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 20% of its tests.
Which Peugeot 406 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2000 cars do best (about average for its age) and 1999 cars do worst (9% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Peugeot 406 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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