Peugeot 207 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 38 model years and 1,055,252 tests, the Peugeot 207 passes its MOT 71.4% of the time. That is 3.1 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 25.5%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
Best and worst 207 years
Ranked across 207 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Build year matters more than the headline suggests: 2014 cars pass 81.3% of the time while 2006 cars manage 69.3%, a 12.0-point spread.
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.6% of tests against 13.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, headlamp aim and position lamp — joints alone was recorded 87,456 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.7% in the 0-30k band and 32.5% in the 150k+ band, a 16.8-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.2% of the time against 29.3% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every 207 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 52,083 | 69.3% | 30.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 165,815 | 69.9% | 30.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 169,954 | 69.6% | 30.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 198,195 | 70.0% | 30.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 193,775 | 71.7% | 28.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 155,253 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 95,446 | 75.5% | 24.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 18,490 | 76.6% | 23.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 6,075 | 81.3% | 18.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 32 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 207,219 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.1% | 138,136 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 112,699 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.5% | 79,016 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.5% | 58,553 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 55,202 |
| 7 | Visibility | 5.1% | 53,677 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.1% | 22,037 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 87,456 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 81,726 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 76,598 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 64,423 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 61,276 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 51,275 |
| 7 | Service brake performance | 41,430 |
| 8 | Exhaust system | 40,629 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 30.1% | 317,420 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.2% | 255,694 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.1% | 233,409 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.1% | 190,674 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 176,502 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.0% | 169,234 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 32,181 | 15.7% |
| 30-60k | 218,934 | 23.6% |
| 60-90k | 393,820 | 28.9% |
| 90-120k | 268,968 | 31.7% |
| 120-150k | 102,667 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 38,181 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 694,332 | 28.2% |
| Diesel | 360,907 | 29.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 265,331 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 238,848 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 214,348 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 184,309 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 152,416 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a Peugeot 207
- Lighting & signalling (19.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Peugeot 207?
71.4% of the 1,055,252 Peugeot 207 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 28.6% fail rate, across model years 1984–2021.
What does the Peugeot 207 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.6% of tests, then suspension (13.1%).
Which 207 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2014 has the best pass rate at 81.3% and 2006 the weakest at 69.3%, from 6,075 and 52,083 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect 207 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 15.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 32.5% for 150k+, a 16.8-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel 207 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 28.2% of the time against 29.3% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,055,252 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.