Used car guide

1999 Peugeot 206: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1999 Peugeot 206s, from 389 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 389 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

389MOT tests in 2025
51%pass first time (all 1999 cars: 65%)
2,800typical miles a year
3.1×the usual rate for exhaust emissions (catalyst)

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1999 Peugeot 206s than on all cars registered in 1999.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)3.1× usual
    Peugeot 206
    14.1% All 1999 cars
    4.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 14.1%, against 4.4% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Flexible brake hoses2.3× usual
    Peugeot 206
    13.6% All 1999 cars
    6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 1% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

  • Exhaust system1.9× usual
    Peugeot 206
    16.5% All 1999 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.7%, against 2.3% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Sidelights2.5× usual
    Peugeot 206
    10.8% All 1999 cars
    4.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10%, against 3.7% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.1× usual
    Peugeot 206
    11.8% All 1999 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 1% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

By area

The share of 1999 Peugeot 206 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    39% 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
    38% 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
    36% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    27% 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
    26% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    26% 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.

Looking at a Peugeot 206?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2009482Suspension 53%
2008997Suspension 49%
20072,184Suspension 44%
20065,011Suspension 48%
20056,657Suspension 50%
20047,049Suspension 48%
20034,901Suspension 46%
20023,631Lights and electrics 45%
20012,231Suspension 50%
2000856Suspension 48%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1999 Peugeot 206s registered in 1999. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score