Large family car · 2001–2013 cars
Peugeot 407 reliability
The Peugeot 407 fails 46.1% of first MOT tests, 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 39,103 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Peugeot 407 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 46.1%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 6% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 39,103
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 9,400
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Peugeot 407 ages
Each point is the share of Peugeot 407s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Peugeot 407 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | 43.1% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 44.3% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 45.6% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 45.1% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 47.7% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 45.9% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 46.6% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 46.6% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 46.5% | 43.4% |
By year
The best and worst Peugeot 407 years
2004 cars come out best and 2010 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 785 | 43.7% | 13% more fails | 104,610 |
| 2010 407 | 4,474 | 46% | 14% more fails | 114,193 |
| 2009 407 | 4,968 | 45.7% | 9% more fails | 115,924 |
| 2008 407 | 4,979 | 44.3% | 2% more fails | 118,775 |
| 2007 407 | 8,415 | 46.4% | 5% more fails | 120,961 |
| 2006 407 | 8,431 | 46.4% | 4% more fails | 121,787 |
| 2005 407 | 5,476 | 48.1% | 6% more fails | 126,932 |
| 2004 407 | 1,568 | 43.6% | 2% fewer fails | 111,945 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Peugeot 407
Its weak spot is wheels: 55% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics22%4% above avg
- Brakes15.9%27% above avg
- Suspension14.5%18% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure12%49% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors9.4%35% above avg
- Tyres9.3%19% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks5.9%11% below avg
- Steering3.1%20% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags1.5%39% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
CV joint boot split or insecure 8.62% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 2
Position lamp not working 6.3% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Stop lamp not working 5.02% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 4
ABS warning lamp shows a fault 5% of tests
A lit ABS warning means the anti-lock system may not work, so wheels could lock during emergency braking.
- 5
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 4.55% of tests
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.
- 6
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 3.29% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 7
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 2.99% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 8
Dipped beam headlamp not working 2.8% 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 407's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit20.06%
- Brake disc pitted or scored17.26%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive14.01%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking8.2%
- Linkage ball joint slight play8.14%
- Brake pads wearing thin6.78%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Peugeot 407
- 1
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 2
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.
- 3
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 4
ABS warning lamp shows a fault
A lit ABS warning means the anti-lock system may not work, so wheels could lock during emergency braking.
- 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 407 covers about 9,400 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
- Diesel91%
- Petrol9%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Silver, Grey, Black, Blue, Red
Average engine size: 2.0 litres.
Compare
How the Peugeot 407 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen CC | 25.1% | 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Saab 9-5 | 35.9% | 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Kia Optima | 19.8% | 9% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Peugeot 508 | 28.2% | 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Rover 75 | 42.5% | about average for its age |
| Peugeot 407 | 46.1% | 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Renault Laguna | 45.8% | 10% 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 407 questions, answered
Is the Peugeot 407 reliable?
On MOT results, the Peugeot 407 is about average: it fails 46.1% of first MOT tests, 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 26 of 29 large family car models in our index.
What fails most on a Peugeot 407 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Peugeot 407 are cv joint boot split or insecure (8.62% of tests), position lamp not working (6.3% of tests), stop lamp not working (5.02% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 22% of its tests.
Which Peugeot 407 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2004 cars do best (about average for its age) and 2010 cars do worst (14% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Peugeot 407 do a year?
A typical Peugeot 407 covers about 9,400 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 407 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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