MOT Risk Index.co.uk

Does the Peugeot 406 fail the MOT on steering more than it should?

The Peugeot 406 records 5.09 steering failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 6.82 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−1.73, 95% interval −1.99 to −1.47). It ranks 448 of 640 models on steering (1 = most failures above expected).

Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on steering · check a Peugeot 406 by registration

What exactly fails on steering?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Peugeot 406 is “A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play”, recorded 727 times in 2019–2024.

Peugeot 406: most frequent steering defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wordingItemsPer 100 tests
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play7271.89
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc5101.32
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated2950.77
Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning2460.64

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 38,499 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

If a Peugeot 406 gets a steering advisory, how often does it fail next time?

13.8% of Peugeot 406 MOTs with a steering advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.2 months and 4,981 miles later (1,322 advisories followed).

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,322 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

Other pages for this model

Peugeot 406 1998 · Peugeot 406 1999 · Peugeot 406 2000 · Peugeot 406 2001 · Peugeot 406 2002 · Peugeot 406 2003 · Peugeot 406 2004 · Peugeot 406 in Norway · Peugeot 406 in the Netherlands · Peugeot 406 by postcode area · Peugeot 406 body, chassis and structure failures · Peugeot 406 brakes failures · Peugeot 406 vehicle identification failures · Peugeot 406 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Peugeot 406 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Peugeot 406 road wheels failures · Peugeot 406 seat belts and airbags failures · Peugeot 406 suspension failures · Peugeot 406 tyres failures · Peugeot 406 visibility failures