Peugeot 505 Reliability

Owners filed 3 complaints about the 505: 1 per production run against 3.73 for the market, fewer complaints than most cars.

NHTSA owner complaints · 3 complaints · 1982–1989 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

Half of all complaints arrive by 0 years of age, so 100% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Power Train, with 1 complaints.

What actually fails — and at what age

Systems by number of complaints, with the age at which each typically goes. The age column is the useful one — it tells you what to expect next on a car you already own, and what to inspect on one you are about to buy.

FIG.03·Peugeot 505 — what fails and when
SystemComplaintsTypical ageCrashFire
Power Train1———
Electrical System1——1
Fuel System1———
Gasoline1———
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the 505's vehicle class.

FIG.05·Peugeot 505 — rivals in the same class
Same class as the 505Complaints on recordRecall campaignsYears built
Toyota Corolla12,3892191981–2026
Lexus IS471182001–2026
BMW M3565781988–2026
Acura TLX893412015–2026
Ford Focus22,5761382000–2026
Subaru WRX290172015–2026
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Peugeot 505 reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1 against 3.73 for the average car.

When do 505 problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 0 years of age. The most reported system is Power Train, followed by Electrical System.

Will the warranty cover 505 problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 0% of reported failures fall inside it.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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