Peugeot Independence MOT pass rate & common failures
The Peugeot Independence appears in 12,087 MOT tests spanning model years 2012–2017, and 78.9% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 17.0% of the time, so this is 4.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
Best and worst Independence years
Ranked across Independence years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Build year matters more than the headline suggests: 2016 cars pass 80.4% of the time while 2013 cars manage 77.0%, a 3.4-point spread.
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.4%) and body, structure & corrosion (9.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, position lamp and headlamp aim — joints alone was recorded 821 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.8% versus 15.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Independence model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 372 | 72.9% | 27.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 1,994 | 77.0% | 23.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 2,538 | 79.0% | 21.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 3,942 | 79.2% | 20.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 3,180 | 80.4% | 19.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 61 | 77.0% | 22.9% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 1,504 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 1,170 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.4% | 654 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.1% | 621 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 568 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.5% | 547 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 332 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.9% | 111 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 821 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 702 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 441 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 397 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 358 |
| 6 | Wipers | 343 |
| 7 | Ball joint | 330 |
| 8 | Washers | 307 |
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 | 21.0% | 2,534 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.5% | 2,361 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 1,215 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.7% | 805 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 749 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 675 |
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 | 1,906 | 15.1% |
| 30-60k | 4,268 | 18.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,769 | 23.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,258 | 24.3% |
| 120-150k | 793 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,090 | 27.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,464 | 17.4% |
| 2022 | 2,457 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 2,434 | 21.8% |
| 2024 | 2,405 | 23.1% |
| 2025 | 2,327 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a Peugeot Independence
- Lighting & signalling (12.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.7% 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 (5.4% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Peugeot Independence?
78.9% of the 12,087 Peugeot Independence MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 21.1% fail rate, across model years 2012–2017.
What does the Peugeot Independence most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.4% of tests, then body, structure & corrosion (9.7%).
Which Independence years are best and worst for MOT results?
2016 has the best pass rate at 80.4% and 2013 the weakest at 77.0%, from 3,180 and 1,994 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Independence MOT results?
Fail rates run at 15.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 27.8% for 150k+, a 12.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,087 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.