2001 Peugeot Partner — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,588 MOT tests, the 2001 Peugeot Partner recorded a 68.9% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (29.8% fail rate), the 2001 Partner comes out 1.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.4% of tests against 15.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and service brake performance — position lamp alone was recorded 209 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 33.5% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.8% in 2021 to 29.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.4% | 502 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.3% | 397 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.6% | 377 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 268 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.1% | 209 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.5% | 143 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 209 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 190 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 185 |
| 4 | Wipers | 145 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 136 |
| 6 | Load sensing valves | 126 |
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 | 40.2% | 1,039 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.0% | 802 |
| 3 | Suspension | 29.3% | 757 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 26.1% | 675 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 514 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.9% | 488 |
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 | 102 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 348 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 591 | 28.9% |
| 120-150k | 694 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 821 | 33.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,455 | 30.8% |
| Petrol | 133 | 35.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 793 | 31.8% |
| 2022 | 627 | 30.9% |
| 2023 | 501 | 32.1% |
| 2024 | 378 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 289 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Partner
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.3% 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.
- Brakes (14.6% 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 2001 Peugeot Partners pass their MOT?
68.9% of the 2,588 2001 Peugeot Partner MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Peugeot Partner?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.4% of tests, followed by suspension (15.3%).
Does the 2001 Partner get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.5% in the 30-60k band to 33.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,588 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.