2012 Peugeot Independence — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 372 MOT tests, the 2012 Peugeot Independence recorded a 72.9% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 21.7% of the time, so this is 5.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.9%) and body, structure & corrosion (14.5%) 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 ball joint — joints alone was recorded 38 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2012 Independence fails 26.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 23.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.7 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 59 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.5% | 54 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.9% | 33 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.7% | 25 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 19 |
| 6 | Brakes | 5.1% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 38 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 28 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 21 |
| 4 | On or after 01/07/2008 | 18 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 16 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 15 |
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 | 23.7% | 88 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.9% | 85 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.0% | 56 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.0% | 52 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.0% | 37 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 31 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 123 | 26.0% |
| 60-90k | 97 | 32.0% |
| 90-120k | 50 | 30.0% |
| 150k+ | 60 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 70 | 20.0% |
| 2022 | 78 | 25.6% |
| 2023 | 81 | 30.9% |
| 2024 | 75 | 30.7% |
| 2025 | 68 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Independence
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.5% 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+.
- Emissions & environmental (8.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Independences pass their MOT?
72.9% of the 372 2012 Peugeot Independence MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Peugeot Independence?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.9% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (14.5%).
Does the 2012 Independence get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.0% in the 30-60k band to 23.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 372 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.