Used car guide

2004 Peugeot 206: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Peugeot 206s, from 7,049 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

7,049MOT tests in 2025

54%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)

3,900typical miles a year

1.7×the usual rate for exhaust system

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 Peugeot 206s than on all cars registered in 2004.

Exhaust system1.7× usual

Peugeot 206
16.8% All 2004 cars
9.7%

Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, against 2.5% of all 2004 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.
Side repeaters4.4× usual

Peugeot 206
8.7% All 2004 cars
2%

Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 1% of all 2004 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.
Steering rack inner joints2.2× usual

Peugeot 206
8.5% All 2004 cars
3.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.
Anti-roll bar link joints2.1× usual

Peugeot 206
8% All 2004 cars
3.9%

Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 1.4% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.
Link ball joint covers2.1× usual

Peugeot 206
5.8% All 2004 cars
2.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 1.5% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Suspension arm: 1.2% here, against 4.1% of all 2004 cars.

By area

The share of 2004 Peugeot 206 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Suspension

48% 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.
Lights and electrics

42% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

36% 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

23% 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

19% 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

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2008	997	Suspension 49%
2007	2,184	Suspension 44%
2006	5,011	Suspension 48%
2005	6,657	Suspension 50%
2003	4,901	Suspension 46%
2002	3,631	Lights and electrics 45%
2001	2,231	Suspension 50%
2000	856	Suspension 48%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 Peugeot 206s registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score