Used car guide

1990 Peugeot 205: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1990 Peugeot 205s, from 626 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

626MOT tests in 2025
72%pass first time (all 1990 cars: 73%)
3,100typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1990 Peugeot 205s than on all cars registered in 1990.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.4× usual
    Peugeot 205
    8.8% All 1990 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 1.3% of all 1990 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

By area

The share of 1990 Peugeot 205 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    27% 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
    23% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    9% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    9% 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 engine or DPF warning lights.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
1995134Brakes 47%
1994169Suspension 41%
1993292Brakes 29%
1992403Brakes 30%
1991529Brakes 25%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1990 Peugeot 205s registered in 1990. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score