2015 Peugeot Independence — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,942 MOT tests, the 2015 Peugeot Independence recorded a 79.2% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (16.4% fail rate), the 2015 Independence comes out 4.4pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.3% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are joints, position lamp and headlamp aim — joints alone was recorded 287 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.4% versus 14.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 524 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 394 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.1% | 199 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.0% | 196 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 189 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.5% | 176 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 287 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 255 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 148 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 127 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 126 |
| 6 | Wipers | 117 |
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 | 20.4% | 804 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.1% | 713 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.1% | 358 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 260 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.8% | 228 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 225 |
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 | 649 | 14.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,384 | 18.7% |
| 60-90k | 861 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 403 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 323 | 23.5% |
| 150k+ | 319 | 25.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 804 | 16.8% |
| 2022 | 818 | 19.9% |
| 2023 | 773 | 20.4% |
| 2024 | 780 | 23.2% |
| 2025 | 767 | 23.7% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Independence
On a 2015 Independence, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.0% 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+.
- Brakes (5.1% 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.
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 2015 Peugeot Independences pass their MOT?
79.2% of the 3,942 2015 Peugeot Independence MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Peugeot Independence?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (10.0%).
Does the 2015 Independence get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.9% in the 0-30k band to 25.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,942 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.