2002 Peugeot 406 2.9L Petrol · HY02 VVT

The 2002 Peugeot 406 passed its most recent MOT on 28 August 2026 at 107,758 miles, though two advisories were issued: an oil leak not considered excessive and a coolant leak. The short-term trend is broadly stable. A clean pass with no defects was recorded on 28 August 2025, and the earlier 2023 test was similarly unblemished. The single failure within this five-test sequence occurred on 29 August 2024, when the horn was judged inoperative, a major defect under section 7.7(a). The repair evidently resolved the issue, as subsequent tests returned clean pass certificates. At roughly 4,490 miles per year over a 24-year lifespan, the recorded mileage is unusually low for the vehicle's age. The MOT entries show 107,653 miles on 3 September 2024, stepping to 107,758 miles by 28 August 2026, an accumulation of just 105 miles across two years between tests. Such minimal annual running often indicates periods of standing rather than regular use, which can accelerate corrosion, harden rubber components, and degrade seals and fluids. The fluid-related advisories noted in August 2026 sit consistent with that profile. The advisories warrant direct physical inspection. The oil leak, logged under section 8.4.1(a)(i), and the coolant leak together point to ageing gaskets, seals, or hose junctions, all common on a vehicle of this vintage. Any buyer should examine the sump, valve cover, and coolant hoses for seepage, and verify that coolant levels are stable after a short drive. The 2024 failure involved an inoperative horn, a straightforward electrical fault, but a working dual-tone horn should still be confirmed at the point of sale. The discoloured rear direction indicators flagged in both the August 2024 failure and the September 2024 pass suggest a minor cosmetic or lens-ageing issue that was not rectified. While advisory only, replacement is inexpensive and worth carrying out. Given the car's age, an in-person check for structural corrosion around sills, suspension components, coil springs, bushes, brake discs, and caliper operation remains essential, as MOT records alone cannot confirm the condition of parts not formally failed or advised at test.