Used car guide

1998 Peugeot 406 diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Peugeot 406 first registered in 1998 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 217 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 217 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

217MOTs of 1998 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
61%pass first time (all 1998 cars: 65%)
5,600typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1998 Peugeot 406 diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1998 Peugeot 406 diesel than on all cars registered in 1998.

  • Engine oil leaks2.1× usual
    Peugeot 406
    33.2% All 1998 cars
    15.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.4% of all 1998 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

Common 1998 Peugeot 406 diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1998 Peugeot 406 diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    49% 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.

  • Brakes
    42% 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.

  • Tyres
    35% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    35% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    27% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    14% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1998 Peugeot 406 diesel

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

  1. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 1998 Peugeot 406 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Peugeot 406?

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 406 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2024–Too new for MOT data
2004551Suspension 51%
20031,922Suspension 48%
20021,847Suspension 46%
20011,751Suspension 48%
20001,296Suspension 51%
1999805Suspension 44%
1997384Suspension 56%
1996109Suspension 51%

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 406 cars first registered in 1998. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score