2007 Peugeot 407 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 16,880 MOT tests, the 2007 Peugeot 407 recorded a 70.7% pass rate. That is 2.6 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.4%) and brakes (14.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, anti-lock braking system and position lamp — joints alone was recorded 1,757 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 26.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.2% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.4% of the time against 29.4% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 32.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 2,597 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.5% | 2,446 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.8% | 1,828 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.2% | 1,715 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.5% | 1,274 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.1% | 1,205 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 1,757 |
| 2 | Anti-lock braking system | 1,236 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,072 |
| 4 | Washers | 984 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 756 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 708 |
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 | 32.8% | 5,543 |
| 2 | Tyres | 32.6% | 5,505 |
| 3 | Suspension | 29.8% | 5,028 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.7% | 3,318 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.1% | 2,376 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 2,358 |
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 | 83 | 26.5% |
| 30-60k | 781 | 21.0% |
| 60-90k | 2,720 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 4,859 | 29.2% |
| 120-150k | 4,407 | 30.7% |
| 150k+ | 3,980 | 32.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 15,046 | 29.4% |
| Petrol | 1,833 | 28.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,219 | 29.0% |
| 2022 | 4,163 | 28.5% |
| 2023 | 3,323 | 30.1% |
| 2024 | 2,451 | 29.5% |
| 2025 | 1,724 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 2007 407
On a 2007 407, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.5% 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 (10.8% 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
How many 2007 Peugeot 407s pass their MOT?
70.7% of the 16,880 2007 Peugeot 407 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Peugeot 407?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by brakes (14.5%).
Does the 2007 407 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.5% in the 0-30k band to 32.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,880 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.