2021 Peugeot Boxer — MOT failures & pass rate
5,281 MOT tests on the 2021 Peugeot Boxer are in this dataset, and 90.4% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (12.4% fail rate), the 2021 Boxer comes out 2.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.3% of tests against 3.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 231 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 19.4% versus 5.8%.
The trend is worsening — 0.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 334 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.1% | 166 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.0% | 159 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.0% | 104 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 98 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.1% | 60 |
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 | 231 |
| 2 | Wipers | 144 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 80 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 58 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 53 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 42 |
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 | 7.8% | 414 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.9% | 311 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.7% | 246 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 189 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.2% | 169 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 116 |
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 | 2,667 | 5.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,387 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 829 | 15.0% |
| 90-120k | 313 | 18.9% |
| 120-150k | 62 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 44 | 0.0% |
| 2022 | 591 | 5.3% |
| 2023 | 665 | 8.7% |
| 2024 | 1,913 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 2,068 | 12.1% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Boxer
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.1% 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.
- Visibility (3.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2021 Peugeot Boxers pass their MOT?
90.4% of the 5,281 2021 Peugeot Boxer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Peugeot Boxer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by brakes (3.1%).
Does the 2021 Boxer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.8% in the 0-30k band to 19.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,281 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.