Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1996 Peugeot 605?

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 1996 Peugeot 605?

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 1996 Peugeot 605?

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.

Is the 1996 Peugeot 605 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 211 vehicles, the 1996 Peugeot 605 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1996 Peugeot 605?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1996 Peugeot 605 are: Oil leak (34% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (33.2% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (23.2% 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 1996 Peugeot 605?

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 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. 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 Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

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.

We have limited data for the 1996 Peugeot 605 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

71.9%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

12.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.52

Over 4.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

96k

Middle half: 73k–121k

For context

These stats describe 211 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 211 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 34%

Oil leak

Brake wear 33.2%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake lever has no reserve travel · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 23.2%

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

Exhaust & emissions 11.9%

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases · Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases · Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases

Suspension & steering 10.2%

Offside Steering rack gaiter split

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

Wipers & washers 7.4%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1996.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 211 Peugeot 605 cars.

Before you buy a 1996 Peugeot 605

Based on MOT data from 211 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 12.8% 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
Petrol (52%)	110	71.3%	1.43
Diesel (48%)	101	72.7%	1.62

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,785 Peugeot 605 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 20.6%

368

Red 18.4%

328

Silver 15.7%

281

Green 11.4%

203

Grey 10.9%

195

White 9.1%

163

Beige 5.5%

Black 3.6%

Gold 2.1%

Brown 1.8%

Maroon 0.6%

Bronze 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1996 Peugeot 605 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.

95,720

typical

73,023

low mileage

121,102

high mileage

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

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 73,023 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.

✓ 73,023–121,102 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1996 Peugeot 605s sit.

⚠ Over 163,487 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

4.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.52

Avg failures per vehicle

3.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Peugeot 605: All 605 years → Which year to buy? →

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997

Or browse all models: Peugeot →

Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on