Peugeot 205 MOT failures and reliability
In 2023 the Peugeot 205 took 3,680 MOT tests in Britain and passed 66% of them first time, below the national average of 71% for all cars. The figures below come from the DVSA's record of every test, so they show what testers actually found on these cars rather than what owners report.
- MOT tests in 2023
- 3,680
- First-time pass rate
- 66%
- All cars
- 71%
What the 205 fails on
Share of tests with at least one failure in each area, against the figure for all cars.
- Lights and electrics18.1% (all cars 11.3%)
- Brakes14.2% (all cars 6.8%)
- Visibility9.2% (all cars 4.8%)
- Suspension8.7% (all cars 9.0%)
- Body and structure8.6% (all cars 3.5%)
- Exhaust and emissions6.1% (all cars 3.1%)
- Tyres2.6% (all cars 6.4%)
- Steering2.5% (all cars 1.8%)
Most common failure items
Share of tests on which each item was recorded.
- Service brake imbalance: across an axle 4.9%
- Washers: not working 4.8%
- Service brake performance: efficiency below requirements 3.6%
- Position lamp: not working 3.5%
- Headlamp aim: too low 3.1%
- Horn: not working 3.0%
- Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt 3.0%
- Rear fog lamp: not working 2.7%
Most common advisories
- Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive 15.4%
- Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material 11.8%
- Tyres, condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 7.3%
- Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 6.2%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened 5.2%
- Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases 4.6%
- Service brake performance: binding but not excessively 4.0%
- Coil spring: corroded 3.6%
Pass rate by year of registration
Older cars fail more often whatever the model, so compare a car with others of the same age.
| First registered | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 342 | 68% |
| 1989 | 513 | 69% |
| 1990 | 659 | 70% |
| 1991 | 597 | 69% |
| 1992 | 450 | 66% |
| 1993 | 326 | 61% |
Check a particular 205
Model figures tell you what to look out for. To see one car's own MOT history, mileage and tax, enter its registration.
Other Peugeot models
- Peugeot 208
- Peugeot 207
- Peugeot Partner
- Peugeot 308
- Peugeot 3008
- Peugeot 107
- Peugeot 2008
- Peugeot 108
- Peugeot 206
- Peugeot Expert
- Peugeot Boxer
- Peugeot 307
- Peugeot 5008
- Peugeot Bipper
- Peugeot 508
- Peugeot 407
- Peugeot RCZ
- Peugeot Horizon
- Peugeot Rifter
- Peugeot 106
- Peugeot 306
- Peugeot 406
- Peugeot Elddis
- Peugeot 1007
- Peugeot Independence
- Peugeot 4007
- Peugeot Traveller
- Peugeot 807
- Peugeot E7
- Peugeot Bailey
Source: Department for Transport, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023, cars and light vans, normal tests only. Pass rates are first-time passes; a pass after repair at the test station counts as a fail. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.