Peugeot 605 (1996)

211 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.9% first-time pass rate

1996 Peugeot 605

CarHunch analysed 211 real MOT records for the 1996 Peugeot 605. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 1996 Peugeot 605 trails the UK average with a 71.9% first-time MOT pass rate versus 80%, suggesting these nearly 30-year-old cars are showing their age across the board—both petrol and diesel variants perform similarly poorly at around 71–73%. While only 12.8% have ever recorded a dangerous defect, the average 1.52 failures per test indicates structural reliability issues rather than freak problems.

These cars are running at a reasonable 115,000 miles on average, but they're racking up nearly four advisories per MOT, pointing to cumulative wear on suspension, brakes and trim rather than catastrophic failures. If you're genuinely considering one, budget for regular maintenance and expect to tackle at least one or two repair jobs per test cycle—this isn't a neglect-friendly classic.

Below average reliability 8.1% below UK average
71.9%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
95,720
typical mileage
73,023–121,102 middle half
12.8%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.52
avg MOT failures per car
over 4.7 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1996 Peugeot 605

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 605

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 (52%) 110 71.3% 1.43
Diesel (48%) 101 72.7% 1.62

Mileage Distribution

Most 1996 Peugeot 605 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.

73,023
low mileage
95,720
typical
121,102
high mileage

Half of all 1996 Peugeot 605 vehicles fall between 73,023 and 121,102 miles.

MOT History Averages

4.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.52
Avg failures per vehicle
3.9
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1996 Peugeot 605

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

  • 34%
    Oil leak
  • 33.2%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 23.2%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 22.8%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 13.9%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 13.3%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 11.9%
    Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases
  • 11.6%
    Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1996. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Peugeot 605?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Peugeot 605:

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997