Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Peugeot 206?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2004 Peugeot 206?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2004 Peugeot 206?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2004 Peugeot 206 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

33% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2004 Peugeot 206 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 85,754 vehicles, the 2004 Peugeot 206 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Peugeot 206?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Peugeot 206 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (83.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (74.6% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (44.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Peugeot 206?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Peugeot 206 (2004)

85,754 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.2% first-time pass rate

2004 Peugeot 206

CarHunch analysed 85,754 real MOT records for the 2004 Peugeot 206. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Peugeot 206 passes its MOT first time in only 71.1% of cases, significantly below the UK average of 80%, and a worrying 33.2% of these cars have recorded dangerous defects at some point—a serious red flag for any potential buyer. Petrol versions fare marginally better at 71.5% pass rate versus 69.5% for diesels, but both are well below acceptable reliability thresholds.

At nearly 64,000 miles on average, these 20-year-old cars show their age through an average of nearly 5 failures and almost 20 advisories per test, suggesting widespread wear across multiple systems rather than isolated issues. Before purchasing one, insist on a full pre-purchase inspection and detailed MOT history going back several years—the high failure and dangerous defect rates mean mechanical surprises are more likely than not.

The 2004 Peugeot 206 has a below-average first-time pass rate (71.2% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

71.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

33.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.97

Over 16.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

58k

Middle half: 46k–71k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 19.8 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 85,754 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 85,754 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 83.6%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 44.2%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 36.7%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Oil leak

Lighting 25.7%

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated · Nearside Registration plate lamp not working · Offside Registration plate lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Suspension & steering 25.5%

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 85,754 Peugeot 206 cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

71.5%

Petrol

70,307 vehicles

69.5%

Diesel

15,423 vehicles

Before you buy a 2004 Peugeot 206

Based on MOT data from 85,754 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 33.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (82%)	70,307	71.5%	4.9
Diesel (18%)	15,423	69.5%	5.31

Colour Breakdown

Based on 643,843 Peugeot 206 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 34.4%

221,655

Blue 22.7%

146,394

Black 12.8%

82,564

Red 10.9%

69,959

Green 9.8%

63,027

Grey 6.4%

41,148

White 1.6%

10,314

Yellow 0.7%

4,466

Orange 0.6%

3,776

Gold 0%

302

Pink 0%

138

Bronze 0%

100

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Peugeot 206 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

57,954

typical

45,559

low mileage

71,436

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Peugeot 206 vehicles fall between 45,559 and 71,436 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 45,559 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 45,559–71,436 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Peugeot 206s sit.

⚠ Over 96,438 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Peugeot 206 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 9% of 2004 Peugeot 206s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 6,786 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (9% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

16.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.97

Avg failures per vehicle

19.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Peugeot 206: All 206 years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Peugeot 206 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on