Peugeot 405 (1988)
1988 Peugeot 405
CarHunch analysed 566 real MOT records for the 1988 Peugeot 405. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1988 Peugeot 405 passes its MOT first time in only 63.5% of cases, significantly below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these cars demand careful pre-purchase inspection and ongoing maintenance vigilance. While dangerous defects appear in 11.1% of this cohort—a manageable concern—the consistent struggle across both petrol and diesel variants (63.4% and 63.8% pass rates respectively) indicates the age and condition of surviving examples is the real issue, not fuel type.
At 121,961 miles average, these vehicles have genuinely high mileage for their age, which explains the 1.31 failures per car on test and 3.0 advisories—typical wear-and-tear across suspension, brakes and bodywork. If you're serious about one, budget for immediate work on whatever the MOT flags, and check service history meticulously; these cars reward owners who stay ahead of decay rather than react to it.
What to check before buying a 1988 Peugeot 405
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Peugeot 405
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (65%) | 366 | 63.4% | 1.33 |
| Diesel (35%) | 200 | 63.8% | 1.27 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1988 Peugeot 405 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1988 Peugeot 405 vehicles fall between 78,840 and 130,812 miles.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1988 Peugeot 405
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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19.2%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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16.9%
Oil leak
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12.3%
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
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11.7%
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
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11.1%
Brakes imbalanced across an axle
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10.9%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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10.7%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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10%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1988. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Peugeot 405?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.