French elegance meets motorway mile-muncher
The Peugeot 407 was a handsome French executive saloon and coupe that competed with the Mondeo and Passat between 2004 and 2011. It attracted buyers who valued comfort, motorway cruising ability and Gallic style over outright driving engagement. The striking coupe variant by Pininfarina brought genuine desirability to the range.
We track 5 known issues across the Peugeot 407 range, with 4 classified as significant. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Peugeot 407? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
407 (2004–2011) — Petrol options included the 2.0, 2.2, 2.2, 3.0 V6, with 1.6 HDi, 2.0 HDi, 2.2 HDi, 2.7 HDi V6 on the diesel side. We track 5 known issues on this generation, with 4 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Front suspension lower arm bushes premature wear (£200–£350 to address).
The front suspension lower arm bushes on the 407 fail significantly earlier than typical for this class of vehicle, with MOT data showing failure rates up to 64.1 times the national average on some variants. The rubber compounds degrade prematurely, causing excessive play in the suspension geometry. This affects steering precision, tyre wear patterns, and vehicle stability. The issue appears across all engine variants and worsens over time.
Worn suspension bushes cause unpredictable handling, particularly during emergency manoeuvres or heavy braking. Tyre wear accelerates significantly, with premature replacement needed. If left unrepaired, the suspension geometry becomes increasingly unstable and will fail MOT testing.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
The 407 suffers from widespread electronic system malfunctions that trigger persistent warning lights on the dashboard, with MOT data showing failure rates up to 57.6 times the national average. These range from ABS and ESP system faults to engine management and airbag warnings. The failures often relate to corroded wiring, failed sensors, or ECU software corruption rather than actual component failures.
Active warning lights will cause MOT failure and may indicate serious safety system malfunctions. Diagnostic costs accumulate as multiple scans are often needed to isolate intermittent faults. Some electronic faults put the vehicle into limp mode, severely limiting performance and drivability.
Check all electrical functions systematically: windows, mirrors, lights, infotainment, heated seats, air conditioning. Look for any warning lights on the dashboard. A diagnostic scan before purchase can reveal stored fault codes.
All diesel 407 variants suffer from DPF blockage issues, with MOT smoke opacity failures running at 33.4 times the national average on 1.6 HDi models. The DPF system was relatively early technology on this generation and struggles with frequent short journeys or stop-start driving. Blocked filters cause excessive smoke emissions, reduced power, and eventual limp mode activation.
A completely blocked DPF requires expensive replacement, typically costing £1,500-£2,500. Attempts to clear blockages with aggressive regeneration can damage other engine components. The car will fail MOT testing on emissions and may become undriveable if the engine enters permanent limp mode.
Ask about the car's typical usage — short urban journeys prevent DPF regeneration. Check for DPF warning lights and ask about any previous regeneration issues. A forced regeneration at a garage costs far less than a DPF replacement.
The 407 suffers from brake caliper seizure at rates significantly above the national average, with MOT data showing binding brake failures up to 11.2 times typical levels. The caliper pistons and sliding pins corrode and seize, causing uneven braking, premature pad wear, and potential brake fade. This particularly affects the rear calipers where corrosion protection is less effective.
Seized brake calipers cause dangerous uneven braking that can lead to loss of control, particularly in emergency stops. Binding brakes increase fuel consumption, cause premature tyre wear, and can lead to brake disc warping or complete brake failure if the system overheats.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
The 407 shows exceptionally high rates of CV joint boot failure, with MOT data indicating failure rates up to 25.9 times the national average. The rubber boots that protect the constant velocity joints from dirt and moisture deteriorate prematurely, allowing contamination that leads to joint wear and eventual failure. This affects both inner and outer CV joints on the front driveshafts.
Split CV boots allow water and dirt contamination, leading to joint wear and eventual failure. A failed CV joint will cause loss of drive to that wheel and potential safety issues. Early detection allows boot replacement at low cost, but delayed repair requires complete joint or driveshaft replacement.
Listen for clunking or vibration from underneath when pulling away or changing direction. Check for play in the driveshafts by rocking the car in gear with the handbrake on. Worn CV boots are a telltale sign — look for grease splatter around the inner wheel arch.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Peugeot 407 common problems page.
Based on 79k real DVSA MOT tests, the Peugeot 407 fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is emissions failure at 152x the fleet average, followed by suspension pin, bush or joint worn (68x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Peugeot 407 MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 13k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include timing belt and tensioner (£400–£600).
See the full Peugeot 407 service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Peugeot 407 is a solid choice on the used market, though not without its quirks. The issues we track are well-understood and largely avoidable if you know what to look for. A thorough inspection and complete service history go a long way. Post-2007 facelift models with the 2.0 HDi engine and manual gearbox are the sweet spot — refined diesels with most early niggles resolved. The coupe arrived late 2005 and is the most desirable body style. Always insist on full service history; there are enough ex-fleet cars around that you should never need to compromise.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Peugeot 407, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 5 known Peugeot 407 issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.