Peugeot 405 MOT Failures
An analysis of 4,860 real DVSA MOT tests on the Peugeot 405 — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: 405 (1987–1997).
Where the Peugeot 405 fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Peugeot 405 is steering rack wear — this model is 34 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 4,860 MOT tests, 16.37% of all Peugeot 405 tests recorded this as a failure.
Steering faults include worn track rod ends, power steering leaks, and rack wear. These are safety-critical — any play in the steering should be investigated immediately.
Other notable weak points include light unit fault (22x the fleet average), subframe bushes or mounts worn (14x the fleet average), headlight fault (147x the fleet average), and abs fault (15x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Peugeot 405's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 5 categories: Steering, Lights & Electrics, Suspension, Seatbelts & Airbags, Brakes. If you're inspecting a Peugeot 405 before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Peugeot 405 specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Subframe mounting point structural failure (405) Dangerous
The body structure around suspension component mounting points deteriorates through corrosion on high-mileage examples. Affects 405; typical independent garage repair cost is £800–£1,500.
Steering rack gaiter deterioration (405) Major
The rubber gaiters protecting the steering rack deteriorate with age, allowing dirt and moisture to contaminate the rack mechanism. Affects 405; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£500.
General body structure corrosion (405) Major
The 405 suffers from widespread structural corrosion affecting overall body rigidity. Affects 405; typical independent garage repair cost is £500–£1,200.
Brake system imbalance and binding (405) Major
The brake system develops imbalance and binding issues on high-mileage examples. Affects 405; typical independent garage repair cost is £400–£700.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Peugeot 405 common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Peugeot 405
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Peugeot 405:
Steering — check for steering rack wear. Lights & Electrics — check for light unit fault, headlight fault. Suspension — check for subframe bushes or mounts worn, abs fault.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about subframe mounting point structural failure and steering rack gaiter deterioration. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £800. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
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Peugeot 405 MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Peugeot 405?
Based on 4,860 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is steering rack wear — at 34x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include light unit fault and subframe bushes or mounts worn.
Is the Peugeot 405 reliable based on MOT data?
The Peugeot 405 has 9 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag subframe mounting point structural failure as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Peugeot 405 most commonly fails on headlight fault and steering rack wear. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are .
How do I check a Peugeot 405's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.