Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 Peugeot 406?

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 2003 Peugeot 406?

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 2003 Peugeot 406?

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 2003 Peugeot 406 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

28% 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 2003 Peugeot 406 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 12,323 vehicles, the 2003 Peugeot 406 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2003 Peugeot 406?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 Peugeot 406 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (66.3% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (61.7% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (60.9% 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 2003 Peugeot 406?

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 406 (2003)

12,323 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.1% first-time pass rate

2003 Peugeot 406

CarHunch analysed 12,323 real MOT records for the 2003 Peugeot 406. 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 2003 Peugeot 406 falls well short of the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 71.1% against the 80% benchmark—meaning nearly 3 in 10 fail their MOT. Worse still, 27.8% of these cars have recorded dangerous defects at some point, a significant buyer concern that suggests structural or safety issues are commonplace in this ageing cohort.

At just over 109,000 miles median, these vehicles are showing their age with an average of 4.21 failures per test and a heavy advisory load of 16.8 per car, pointing to widespread wear across suspension, steering, and emissions systems. Before committing to a 2003 406, obtain its full MOT history and have a trusted mechanic inspect the chassis, braking system, and exhaust—this generation simply requires more rigorous pre-purchase vetting than younger rivals.

The 2003 Peugeot 406 has a below-average first-time pass rate (71.1% 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

71.1%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

27.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.21

Over 13.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

110k

Middle half: 85k–139k

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 16.8 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 12,323 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 12,323 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 66.3%

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · 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 41%

Oil leak · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Suspension & steering 26.7%

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint

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

Exhaust & emissions 20.3%

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 12,323 Peugeot 406 cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.7 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

73.5%

Petrol

1,524 vehicles

70.8%

Diesel

10,791 vehicles

Before you buy a 2003 Peugeot 406

Based on MOT data from 12,323 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 27.8% 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
Diesel (88%)	10,791	70.8%	4.3
Petrol (12%)	1,524	73.5%	3.54

Colour Breakdown

Based on 237,242 Peugeot 406 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 31.7%

75,154

Silver 22.2%

52,572

Red 19%

45,037

Green 15.1%

35,937

White 5%

11,774

Grey 4.3%

10,123

Black 2%

4,825

Bronze 0.6%

1,327

Yellow 0.1%

309

Maroon 0%

Gold 0%

Beige 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2003 Peugeot 406 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.

109,881

typical

85,381

low mileage

139,178

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Peugeot 406 vehicles fall between 85,381 and 139,178 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 85,381 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.

✓ 85,381–139,178 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Peugeot 406s sit.

⚠ Over 187,890 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Peugeot 406 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 7% of 2003 Peugeot 406s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 473 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (7% 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

13.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.21

Avg failures per vehicle

16.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Peugeot 406: All 406 years → Which year to buy? →

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2004

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Compare with another model

See how the 2003 Peugeot 406 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on