Peugeot 405 (1994)

19,370 real MOT outcomes analysed • 66.8% first-time pass rate

1994 Peugeot 405

CarHunch analysed 19,370 real MOT records for the 1994 Peugeot 405. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 1994 Peugeot 405 passes its MOT on first attempt only 66.8% of the time, well below the UK average of 80%, which signals reliability concerns worth taking seriously before purchase. While dangerous defects appear in 15.5% of these vehicles—higher than ideal but not alarming—both petrol and diesel variants perform similarly poorly (65–67% pass rates), so fuel type won't be your differentiator here.

These cars are averaging nearly 150,000 miles, which is reasonable for their age, but they're racking up 1.76 failures and 4.4 advisories per test, indicating worn components are the norm rather than the exception. Before buying, budget for immediate repairs beyond cosmetics, and get a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, brakes, and exhaust systems—the typical weak points on cars this age and mileage.

Below average reliability 13.2% below UK average
66.8%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
149,650
typical mileage
123,025–178,657 middle half
15.5%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.76
avg MOT failures per car
over 4.9 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.2 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

65.1%
Petrol
4,635 vehicles
67.3%
Diesel
14,733 vehicles

What to check before buying a 1994 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
Diesel (76%) 14,733 67.3% 1.78
Petrol (24%) 4,635 65.1% 1.68
LPG (0%) 2 60% 3

Mileage Distribution

Most 1994 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.

123,025
low mileage
149,650
typical
178,657
high mileage

Half of all 1994 Peugeot 405 vehicles fall between 123,025 and 178,657 miles.

1994 Peugeot 405 — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 54 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (7% of peak).

822 54 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

4.9
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.76
Avg failures per vehicle
4.4
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1994 Peugeot 405

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 36.7%
    Oil leak
  • 34%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 19.4%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 16.8%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 14.8%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 13.4%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 11.8%
    Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
  • 9.6%
    Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1994. 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.

UK

Other model years — Peugeot 405:

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1995 1996 1997