1997 Peugeot Boxer — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,456 MOT tests analysed for the 1997 Peugeot Boxer, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 71.0% was in line with the average for vans of a similar age (70.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 36.8% in the 150k+ group versus 15.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 1,059 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.1% | 782 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.2% | 725 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.8% | 698 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.0% | 584 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 294 |
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 | 836 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 469 |
| 3 | Wipers | 431 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 423 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 419 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 338 |
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 | 41.8% | 2,700 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.9% | 2,251 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.9% | 1,412 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.6% | 816 |
| 5 | Tyres | 12.4% | 800 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 654 |
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 | 129 | 15.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,264 | 26.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,894 | 29.6% |
| 90-120k | 919 | 32.2% |
| 120-150k | 181 | 35.4% |
| 150k+ | 68 | 36.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,686 | 28.0% |
| Petrol | 1,770 | 31.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,384 | 28.7% |
| 2022 | 1,360 | 29.0% |
| 2023 | 1,298 | 28.3% |
| 2024 | 1,246 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 1,168 | 29.4% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Boxer
Before buying a 1997 Peugeot Boxer, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 16.4% of tests for this year.
- 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 (12.1% 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 (11.2% 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 1997 Peugeot Boxers pass their MOT?
71.0% of the 6,456 1997 Peugeot Boxer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Peugeot Boxer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by brakes (12.1%).
Does the 1997 Boxer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.5% in the 0-30k band to 36.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,456 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.