2012 Peugeot Boxer — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 13,665 MOT tests, the 2012 Peugeot Boxer recorded an 85.2% pass rate. That is 10.8 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 25.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.1% of tests against 5.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and rbt (sp) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 664 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.5% once past 150k — 3.1× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 13.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 1,384 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.0% | 680 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.6% | 633 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 398 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 357 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 267 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 664 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 333 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 325 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 274 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 266 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 254 |
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 | 13.0% | 1,782 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.9% | 1,761 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.1% | 1,386 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 1,275 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 807 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.6% | 625 |
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 | 5,106 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 3,957 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,223 | 21.2% |
| 90-120k | 947 | 25.2% |
| 120-150k | 885 | 26.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,515 | 27.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,765 | 12.8% |
| 2022 | 2,796 | 14.3% |
| 2023 | 2,745 | 14.5% |
| 2024 | 2,696 | 15.9% |
| 2025 | 2,663 | 16.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Boxer
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.0% 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 (4.6% 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 2012 Peugeot Boxers pass their MOT?
85.2% of the 13,665 2012 Peugeot Boxer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Peugeot Boxer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.1% of tests, followed by brakes (5.0%).
Does the 2012 Boxer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 27.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,665 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.