2013 Peugeot 207 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 18,490 MOT tests, the 2013 Peugeot 207 recorded a 76.6% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (21.1% fail rate), the 2013 207 comes out 2.3pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.9% of tests against 9.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, coil spring and joints — position lamp alone was recorded 1,272 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.5% versus 12.8%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 21.8% fail against 24.8% for diesel, a 3.0-point gap across 18,486 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 2,940 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.4% | 1,735 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 1,494 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.8% | 1,073 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.0% | 917 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 641 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 1,272 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,190 |
| 3 | Joints | 1,006 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 968 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 799 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 748 |
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 | 27.1% | 5,015 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.5% | 4,714 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.3% | 3,018 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.3% | 2,651 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 1,687 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.0% | 1,297 |
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 | 1,594 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 6,110 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 6,114 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 3,231 | 28.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,070 | 30.8% |
| 150k+ | 369 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,790 | 24.8% |
| Petrol | 8,696 | 21.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,851 | 20.3% |
| 2022 | 3,700 | 21.0% |
| 2023 | 3,811 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 3,667 | 25.4% |
| 2025 | 3,461 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a 2013 207
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.4% 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 (8.1% 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 2013 Peugeot 207s pass their MOT?
76.6% of the 18,490 2013 Peugeot 207 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Peugeot 207?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.9% of tests, followed by suspension (9.4%).
Does the 2013 207 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 32.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,490 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.