2011 Peugeot 407 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,502 MOT tests, the 2011 Peugeot 407 recorded a 73.8% pass rate. That is 3.5 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests against 12.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, position lamp and stop lamp — joints alone was recorded 202 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 21.0% in the 30-60k band and 27.2% in the 150k+ band, a 6.2-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 250 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.1% | 182 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.7% | 100 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.6% | 99 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.9% | 89 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.7% | 70 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 202 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 122 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 99 |
| 4 | Washers | 85 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 66 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 60 |
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 | 30.4% | 456 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.0% | 360 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.0% | 345 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.5% | 188 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 155 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 132 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 100 | 21.0% |
| 60-90k | 412 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 467 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 262 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 239 | 27.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 348 | 23.8% |
| 2022 | 342 | 24.9% |
| 2023 | 308 | 24.7% |
| 2024 | 275 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 229 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a 2011 407
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.1% 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+.
- Visibility (6.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2011 Peugeot 407s pass their MOT?
73.8% of the 1,502 2011 Peugeot 407 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Peugeot 407?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.1%).
Does the 2011 407 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.0% in the 30-60k band to 27.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,502 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.