The picture
205: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 4,496 MOT tests, the 205 returns 70.9% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a split CV-joint boot. Brakes imbalance across an axle such and windscreen washers not working round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 106,516, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
288 occurrences · 6.4% of tests
- 02
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.
175 occurrences · 3.9% of tests
- 03
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
158 occurrences · 3.5% of tests
- 04
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
157 occurrences · 3.5% of tests
- 05
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
153 occurrences · 3.4% of tests
- 06
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
145 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
- 07
Service brake efficiency below minimum requirement
136 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
- 08
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
121 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
- 09
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
113 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
- 10
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
108 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
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Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Buying or keeping a 205?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 205 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.