1996 Peugeot Boxer — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1996 Peugeot Boxer passed 70.7% of its 4,665 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (29.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests against 12.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, wipers and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 499 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 26.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.7% once past 150k.
The diesel cars hold up better: 28.0% fail against 33.1% for petrol, a 5.0-point gap across 4,665 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 778 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.9% | 602 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.8% | 505 |
| 4 | Visibility | 10.4% | 487 |
| 5 | Suspension | 10.3% | 478 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 234 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 499 |
| 2 | Wipers | 417 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 348 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 335 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 292 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 247 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 39.4% | 1,836 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.4% | 1,649 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.3% | 996 |
| 4 | Tyres | 12.5% | 585 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.5% | 535 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 517 |
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 | 1,557 | 27.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,143 | 29.8% |
| 90-120k | 643 | 32.7% |
| 120-150k | 140 | 27.1% |
| 150k+ | 98 | 35.7% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,519 | 28.0% |
| Petrol | 1,146 | 33.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 970 | 28.0% |
| 2022 | 970 | 30.7% |
| 2023 | 940 | 27.8% |
| 2024 | 885 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 900 | 31.8% |
What to check before buying a 1996 Boxer
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.9% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.8% 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 1996 Peugeot Boxers pass their MOT?
70.7% of the 4,665 1996 Peugeot Boxer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Peugeot Boxer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests, followed by brakes (12.9%).
Does the 1996 Boxer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.5% in the 0-30k band to 35.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,665 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.