Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1997 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 1997 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 1997 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 1997 Peugeot 605 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 117 vehicles, the 1997 Peugeot 605 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1997 Peugeot 605?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1997 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 1997 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 (1997)

117 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.3% first-time pass rate

1997 Peugeot 605

CarHunch analysed 117 real MOT records for the 1997 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 Compare Models

The 1997 Peugeot 605 falls below the UK average with a 71.3% first-time pass rate against the national 80%, suggesting these cars are more prone to needing work before MOT success. The good news is that dangerous defects are relatively uncommon at 10.3%, so safety-critical issues aren't a major concern for this cohort.

At nearly 108,000 miles on average, these vehicles are well-used for their age, yet they're accumulating 1.86 failures and 6.1 advisories per test—indicating aging components rather than catastrophic problems. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the recurring minor faults (likely suspension, lights, and trim items that show up as advisories), as addressing these will be cheaper than inheriting an MOT failure.

We have limited data for the 1997 Peugeot 605 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

71.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

10.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.86

Over 6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

99k

Middle half: 80k–118k

For context

These stats describe 117 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 117 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 1997.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 117 Peugeot 605 cars.

Before you buy a 1997 Peugeot 605

Based on MOT data from 117 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 10.3% 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 (69%)	81	72.9%	1.64

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 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.

99,152

typical

79,990

low mileage

118,318

high mileage

Half of all 1997 Peugeot 605 vehicles fall between 79,990 and 118,318 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 79,990 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.

✓ 79,990–118,318 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1997 Peugeot 605s sit.

⚠ Over 159,729 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.86

Avg failures per vehicle

6.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

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Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on