2012 Peugeot Expert — MOT failures & pass rate
16,396 MOT tests on the 2012 Peugeot Expert are in this dataset, and 73.2% of them passed. That is 1.3 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 25.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests against 12.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, position lamp and ball joint — joints alone was recorded 1,700 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.7% in the 0-30k band and 29.3% in the 150k+ band, a 13.6-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.5% | 3,029 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.6% | 2,061 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.5% | 1,718 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.6% | 1,246 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.4% | 1,049 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.5% | 739 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 1,700 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,564 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 1,016 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 836 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 724 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 625 |
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 | 23.0% | 3,769 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.3% | 3,657 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 17.0% | 2,784 |
| 4 | Suspension | 14.6% | 2,397 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.0% | 2,288 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 2,213 |
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 | 299 | 15.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,739 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 3,052 | 26.3% |
| 90-120k | 3,388 | 26.8% |
| 120-150k | 2,813 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 5,093 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,359 | 26.8% |
| Petrol | 37 | 29.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,526 | 25.6% |
| 2022 | 3,471 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 3,301 | 26.8% |
| 2024 | 3,171 | 28.2% |
| 2025 | 2,927 | 27.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Expert
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (10.5% 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 Experts pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 16,396 2012 Peugeot Expert MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Peugeot Expert?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.6%).
Does the 2012 Expert get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.7% in the 0-30k band to 29.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,396 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.