Used Peugeot 406 Estate 1996 - 2004 reliability
Category: Estate car
The Peugeot 406 Estate is a competent, comfortable load-hauler. It's cheap, has a lovely ride and is widely available, too
What should I look for in a used Peugeot 406 estate?
The electrics are the most common cause of complaint. Pay particular attention to the central locking (sometimes the boot won't lock) and the indicator stalks, which are known to be dodgy.
Check all the toys (air-con, electric windows and mirrors, sat-nav, audio system etc). Later cars tend to be better, but take nothing for granted until you've seen it working.
Transmissions give cause for complaint, too, while the brakes can be iffy and not always that cheap to sort. Watch out for knackered suspension, especially at the rear if the car has been used for heavy load-lugging.
The engines tend to be robust if serviced on time - and a full service history is more important on the turbodiesels. Keep an eye out for ex-taxis that have had the odometer wound back. Be suspicious if there are gaps in the service records, excessive wear in the cabin or heavy stone-chipping.
