2005 Peugeot Boxer — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Peugeot Boxer passed 76.6% of its 15,641 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 29.8% of the time, so this is 6.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.1% of tests against 9.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and wipers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,696 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 38.6% versus 15.9%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 22.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 2,052 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.4% | 1,470 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.2% | 1,437 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 1,132 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.0% | 946 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.0% | 310 |
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 | 1,696 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 994 |
| 3 | Wipers | 810 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 788 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 679 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 610 |
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 | 22.2% | 3,473 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.0% | 3,130 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.9% | 2,339 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 2,182 |
| 5 | Tyres | 12.6% | 1,966 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 1,099 |
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 | 2,037 | 15.9% |
| 30-60k | 8,956 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,821 | 28.2% |
| 90-120k | 934 | 35.4% |
| 120-150k | 526 | 34.0% |
| 150k+ | 355 | 38.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,277 | 22.9% |
| 2022 | 3,236 | 23.0% |
| 2023 | 3,118 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 3,040 | 23.8% |
| 2025 | 2,970 | 24.9% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Boxer
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.4% 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 (9.2% 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 2005 Peugeot Boxers pass their MOT?
76.6% of the 15,641 2005 Peugeot Boxer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Peugeot Boxer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by brakes (9.4%).
Does the 2005 Boxer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.9% in the 0-30k band to 38.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,641 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.