Used car guide

1991 Peugeot 205 petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Peugeot 205 first registered in 1991 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 1,477 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,477MOTs of 1991 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
71%pass first time (all 1991 cars: 71%)
3,000typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for horn

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1991 Peugeot 205 petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1991 Peugeot 205 petrol than on all cars registered in 1991.

  • Horn2.2× usual
    Peugeot 205
    3.5% All 1991 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 1.6% of all 1991 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

Better than most

Rust around suspension or steering mountings: 2.8% here, against 5.9% of all 1991 cars. Body structure rust or damage: 1.8% here, against 4.1% of all 1991 cars.

Common 1991 Peugeot 205 petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1991 Peugeot 205 petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    26% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    23% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    22% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    17% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Tyres
    12% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    11% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1991 Peugeot 205 petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the horn? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 1991 Peugeot 205 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Peugeot 205?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Peugeot 205 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
1996232Brakes 44%
1995475Brakes 41%
1994542Brakes 39%
1993918Brakes 34%
19921,262Brakes 33%
19901,902Brakes 28%
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Peugeot 205 cars first registered in 1991. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score