2003 Peugeot Boxer — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Peugeot Boxer passed 77.0% of its 12,421 recorded MOT tests. That is 7.0 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 30.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.2%) and suspension (9.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and wipers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,283 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.6% versus 16.1%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 1,387 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.4% | 1,167 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.1% | 1,125 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 795 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.7% | 706 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.1% | 260 |
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 | 1,283 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 691 |
| 3 | Wipers | 584 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 555 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 537 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 483 |
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 | 23.5% | 2,918 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.9% | 2,716 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 1,787 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 1,764 |
| 5 | Tyres | 12.1% | 1,503 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.9% | 980 |
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 | 1,317 | 16.1% |
| 30-60k | 6,691 | 20.3% |
| 60-90k | 3,165 | 27.8% |
| 90-120k | 756 | 31.2% |
| 120-150k | 289 | 36.0% |
| 150k+ | 189 | 29.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,584 | 22.1% |
| 2022 | 2,515 | 22.6% |
| 2023 | 2,502 | 22.1% |
| 2024 | 2,442 | 24.3% |
| 2025 | 2,378 | 23.8% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Boxer
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.4% 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.
- Brakes (9.1% 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.
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 2003 Peugeot Boxers pass their MOT?
77.0% of the 12,421 2003 Peugeot Boxer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Peugeot Boxer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests, followed by suspension (9.4%).
Does the 2003 Boxer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.1% in the 0-30k band to 29.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,421 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.