2009 Peugeot 207 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 198,195 MOT tests, the 2009 Peugeot 207 recorded a 70.0% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (25.9% fail rate), the 2009 207 comes out 4.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.3% of all tests — 4.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are joints, position lamp and coil spring — joints alone was recorded 19,674 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.8% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 29.6% of the time against 30.7% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 30.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.3% | 38,247 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.9% | 29,444 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 23,291 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.5% | 16,858 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.7% | 11,207 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.4% | 10,682 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 19,674 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 15,952 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 14,296 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 13,845 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 10,763 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 10,003 |
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 | 30.2% | 59,934 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.6% | 48,660 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.4% | 48,276 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.4% | 34,415 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.2% | 32,143 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 29,658 |
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 | 5,871 | 17.7% |
| 30-60k | 39,623 | 25.8% |
| 60-90k | 74,640 | 30.4% |
| 90-120k | 50,929 | 32.5% |
| 120-150k | 19,652 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 7,398 | 32.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 134,542 | 29.6% |
| Diesel | 63,649 | 30.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 49,466 | 29.6% |
| 2022 | 45,159 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 40,742 | 30.4% |
| 2024 | 34,648 | 30.5% |
| 2025 | 28,180 | 30.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 207
On a 2009 207, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.9% 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 (11.8% 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
How many 2009 Peugeot 207s pass their MOT?
70.0% of the 198,195 2009 Peugeot 207 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Peugeot 207?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests, followed by suspension (14.9%).
Does the 2009 207 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.7% in the 0-30k band to 32.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 198,195 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.