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What to check: Peugeot 407

Ranked across all years of the Peugeot 407, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 18.1% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 1.4%

LeaksRuns high on this modelLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 16.5% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 4.8%

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 14.0% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 1.8%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 11.7% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 3.5%

A binding brakeRuns high on this modelAfter the test drive, hold the back of your hand near each wheel hub. One wheel running much hotter than the rest is a sticking caliper. A car that slows itself down when you lift off on a flat road is saying the same thing.Recorded on 5.2% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 1.4%

Cold start and smokeRuns high on this modelAsk the seller not to warm the car up before you arrive, then watch the tailpipe at start-up and again under hard acceleration. Any visible smoke is a negotiation at best. A diesel that has lived on short trips may also be carrying a tired particulate filter.Recorded on 4.4% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 0.2%

Steering playRuns high on this modelWith the engine running and the car parked, waggle the wheel lightly about the straight-ahead. The wheels should respond almost at once. A dead zone before anything happens means wear in the rack or the track rod ends.Recorded on 4.3% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 1.7%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourRuns high on this modelCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 33.0% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 20.9%

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 22.2% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 11.4%

Windscreen and wipersRuns high on this modelScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 4.9% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 1.2%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Pull away from a dead stop and coast to a halt in the automatic (if fitted).Hesitation on kickdown or a shudder coasting to a stop points to AL4/AM6 gearbox wear.

Press the brake pedal hard with the engine off, then running.A pedal that feels noticeably harder with the engine running suggests a servo fault, recalled or not.

Check the dash for a Depollution System Fault or limp-home warning after a longer drive.This flags fuel pressure sensor, EGR or turbo problems on the HDi diesels.

Look closely at the sills, wheel arches and paint at the bottom edges of the doors.Bubbling paint or thin metal here is the bodywork side of this model's corrosion signature.

Turn the climate control to dual-zone and set different temperatures each side.If it won't hold two zones or throws a fault, budget for an expensive repair or accept single-zone only.

On a manual diesel, listen for a rattle at idle and feel for a shudder as the clutch bites.Both point to a worn dual mass flywheel or a clutch nearing the end of its life.

Ask for cambelt/water pump and ATF service history, especially on the diesel.No record of these by 60-80k miles is a warning sign, not just a cost to budget for.

Full Peugeot 407 reliability report