2011 Peugeot Rcz — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Peugeot Rcz passed 75.5% of its 16,153 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (17.7% fail rate), the 2011 Rcz comes out 6.7pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.6%) and suspension (11.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and headlamp — coil spring alone was recorded 1,514 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.9% versus 13.6%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 23.9% fail against 25.8% for diesel, a 1.9-point gap across 16,153 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 1,868 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.5% | 1,855 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 996 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.6% | 911 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.6% | 742 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 731 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,514 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 808 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 744 |
| 4 | Joints | 731 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 592 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 541 |
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 | 29.6% | 4,783 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.4% | 3,946 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 16.6% | 2,683 |
| 4 | Suspension | 16.5% | 2,662 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 1,818 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.3% | 1,013 |
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 | 440 | 13.6% |
| 30-60k | 4,339 | 20.4% |
| 60-90k | 6,948 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,270 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 876 | 29.4% |
| 150k+ | 276 | 27.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 11,259 | 23.9% |
| Diesel | 4,894 | 25.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,457 | 23.9% |
| 2022 | 3,391 | 23.4% |
| 2023 | 3,291 | 24.3% |
| 2024 | 3,161 | 25.5% |
| 2025 | 2,853 | 25.3% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Rcz
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.5% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (6.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2011 Peugeot Rczs pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 16,153 2011 Peugeot Rcz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Peugeot Rcz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by suspension (11.5%).
Does the 2011 Rcz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.6% in the 0-30k band to 27.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,153 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.