2018 Peugeot Partner — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 88,340 MOT tests, the 2018 Peugeot Partner recorded an 82.4% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 16.1% of the time, so this is 1.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.7% of tests against 4.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 7,022 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.1% in the 0-30k band and 24.4% in the 150k+ band, a 14.4-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 7.2% fail against 18.5% for diesel, a 11.3-point gap across 87,699 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.7% | 15,608 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.9% | 4,358 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.7% | 4,104 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.2% | 3,673 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.2% | 2,828 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.0% | 2,664 |
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 | 7,022 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 4,634 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 4,335 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 3,979 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 3,624 |
| 6 | Washers | 2,965 |
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% | 18,520 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.7% | 13,878 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 9,166 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 6,034 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.6% | 5,820 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.5% | 4,891 |
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 | 11,945 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 27,939 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 24,881 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 14,601 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 5,918 | 24.0% |
| 150k+ | 3,032 | 24.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 81,030 | 18.5% |
| Petrol | 6,669 | 7.2% |
| Electric | 641 | 11.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,023 | 14.0% |
| 2022 | 17,919 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 17,882 | 18.0% |
| 2024 | 17,299 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 17,217 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Partner
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (4.7% 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 2018 Peugeot Partners pass their MOT?
82.4% of the 88,340 2018 Peugeot Partner MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Peugeot Partner?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.7% of tests, followed by visibility (4.9%).
Does the 2018 Partner get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 24.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 88,340 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.