2016 Peugeot Independence — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Peugeot Independence passed 80.4% of its 3,180 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (14.5% fail rate), the 2016 Independence comes out 5.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests against 8.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, position lamp and headlamp aim — joints alone was recorded 196 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.0% in the 0-30k band and 28.0% in the 150k+ band, a 14.0-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 353 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 253 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.2% | 164 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.1% | 163 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.6% | 147 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 139 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 196 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 153 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 109 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 99 |
| 5 | Wipers | 96 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 87 |
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 | 19.1% | 609 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.8% | 504 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 240 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 168 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.1% | 163 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 159 |
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 | 729 | 14.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,128 | 17.2% |
| 60-90k | 551 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 310 | 24.2% |
| 120-150k | 223 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 239 | 28.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 637 | 15.1% |
| 2022 | 612 | 16.3% |
| 2023 | 655 | 21.2% |
| 2024 | 643 | 22.2% |
| 2025 | 633 | 22.9% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Independence
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.0% 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+.
- Tyres (5.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2016 Peugeot Independences pass their MOT?
80.4% of the 3,180 2016 Peugeot Independence MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Peugeot Independence?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (8.0%).
Does the 2016 Independence get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.0% in the 0-30k band to 28.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,180 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.