2009 Peugeot 407 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 9,765 MOT tests, the 2009 Peugeot 407 recorded a 72.7% pass rate. That is 2.4 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.6% of all tests — 6.5 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are joints, position lamp and stop lamp — joints alone was recorded 1,149 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.9% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 31.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.6% | 1,721 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.1% | 1,083 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.6% | 837 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.3% | 715 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.3% | 614 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.0% | 591 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 1,149 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 821 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 599 |
| 4 | Washers | 479 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 453 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 377 |
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 | 31.4% | 3,070 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.4% | 2,876 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.1% | 2,739 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.9% | 1,553 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 1,274 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.5% | 1,217 |
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 | 131 | 21.4% |
| 30-60k | 517 | 18.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,789 | 24.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,946 | 27.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,380 | 29.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,983 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,379 | 27.4% |
| Petrol | 386 | 26.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,553 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 2,250 | 26.4% |
| 2023 | 1,968 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 1,692 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 1,302 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 407
On a 2009 407, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.1% 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+.
- Suspension (8.6% 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 2009 Peugeot 407s pass their MOT?
72.7% of the 9,765 2009 Peugeot 407 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Peugeot 407?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.6% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (11.1%).
Does the 2009 407 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.4% in the 0-30k band to 30.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,765 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.