Peugeot 407 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Peugeot 407 appears in 78,917 MOT tests spanning model years 2001–2021, and 71.4% of them passed. That is 2.3 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.3%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
Best and worst 407 years
Ranked across 407 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
Not every year is equal — 73.8% of 2011 examples pass against 70.1% of 2006 ones.
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests against 12.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, position lamp and washers — joints alone was recorded 6,996 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 24.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.5% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.3% of the time against 28.6% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every 407 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 3,245 | 71.8% | 28.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 11,778 | 70.4% | 29.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 17,463 | 70.1% | 29.9% | Brakes |
| 2007 | 16,880 | 70.7% | 29.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 9,683 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 9,765 | 72.7% | 27.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 8,546 | 73.2% | 26.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 1,502 | 73.8% | 26.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 12,976 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.2% | 9,590 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.0% | 8,713 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 7,086 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.0% | 5,490 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.0% | 5,481 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 3,511 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.3% | 1,796 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 6,996 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 5,199 |
| 3 | Washers | 4,574 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 3,904 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 3,823 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 3,623 |
| 7 | Anti-lock braking system | 3,616 |
| 8 | Tread depth | 3,208 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 31.7% | 25,042 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.5% | 24,861 |
| 3 | Suspension | 29.8% | 23,521 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.8% | 13,236 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 11,636 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.0% | 11,062 |
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 | 661 | 24.8% |
| 30-60k | 3,952 | 19.7% |
| 60-90k | 13,122 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 21,997 | 28.2% |
| 120-150k | 20,124 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 18,536 | 31.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 71,810 | 28.6% |
| Petrol | 7,106 | 28.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,882 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 19,144 | 28.1% |
| 2023 | 15,297 | 28.7% |
| 2024 | 11,797 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 8,797 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a Peugeot 407
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (11.0% 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.
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 407?
71.4% of the 78,917 Peugeot 407 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 28.6% fail rate, across model years 2001–2021.
What does the Peugeot 407 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, then brakes (12.2%).
Which 407 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2011 has the best pass rate at 73.8% and 2006 the weakest at 70.1%, from 1,502 and 17,463 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect 407 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 24.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 31.5% for 150k+, a 6.7-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel 407 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 28.3% of the time against 28.6% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 78,917 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.