2021 Peugeot Partner — MOT failures & pass rate
25,827 MOT tests on the 2021 Peugeot Partner are in this dataset, and 84.7% of them passed. That is 1.4 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 13.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.7% of tests against 8.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and headlamp — wipers alone was recorded 2,010 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 Partner fails 11.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 12.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.4 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.4% of tests failed in 2023 against 15.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 3,287 |
| 2 | Visibility | 8.3% | 2,140 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.3% | 1,108 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.1% | 1,048 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 350 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 304 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 2,010 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,919 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 1,172 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 937 |
| 5 | Washers | 712 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 565 |
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% | 5,282 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.6% | 4,813 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.7% | 1,719 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 1,513 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.4% | 1,136 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.6% | 938 |
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 | 4,159 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 11,841 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 7,144 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 2,139 | 17.8% |
| 120-150k | 425 | 17.4% |
| 150k+ | 119 | 12.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 25,770 | 15.3% |
| Electric | 47 | 4.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 499 | 10.4% |
| 2024 | 12,747 | 15.5% |
| 2025 | 12,572 | 15.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Partner
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (8.3% 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 (4.3% 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 2021 Peugeot Partners pass their MOT?
84.7% of the 25,827 2021 Peugeot Partner MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Peugeot Partner?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.7% of tests, followed by visibility (8.3%).
Does the 2021 Partner get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 12.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,827 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.