Peugeot 406 (1998)
1998 Peugeot 406
CarHunch analysed 40,250 real MOT records for the 1998 Peugeot 406. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1998 Peugeot 406 struggles on the MOT: a 68.8% first-time pass rate sits well below the UK average of 80%, and nearly 18% of these cars have suffered dangerous defects at some point—a significant concern for a buyer. Petrol and diesel versions perform similarly (69.2% and 68.3% respectively), so fuel choice won't meaningfully improve your odds.
These 406s are averaging 122,470 miles, which is reasonable for their age, but they're racking up an average of 2.57 failures and 8.1 advisories per test—suggesting wear and cumulative neglect are common. If you're considering one, budget for near-certain remedial work and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brakes, suspension, and steering components where age-related failures cluster.
What to check before buying a 1998 Peugeot 406
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 406
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 (53%) | 21,326 | 69.2% | 2.49 |
| Diesel (47%) | 18,901 | 68.3% | 2.65 |
| LPG (0%) | 20 | 63.1% | 2.35 |
| Other (0%) | 2 | 58.5% | 4 |
| Electric (0%) | 1 | 50% | 2 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1998 Peugeot 406 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 1998 Peugeot 406 vehicles fall between 84,638 and 128,888 miles.
1998 Peugeot 406 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 277 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (6% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1998 Peugeot 406
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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49.2%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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44.7%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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44.1%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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43.5%
Oil leak
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41.9%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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41.1%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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23.4%
Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
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22.2%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Peugeot 406?
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