2020 Peugeot Rifter — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,715 MOT tests, the 2020 Peugeot Rifter recorded an 88.5% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (9.3% fail rate), the 2020 Rifter comes out 2.2pp worse. Failures cluster in visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Visibility dominates the failure mix at 9.4% of all tests — 4.4 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and headlamp — wipers alone was recorded 881 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.4% once past 90-120k — 2.2× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 2.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 9.4% | 821 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 437 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.9% | 257 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.1% | 184 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 83 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 69 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 881 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 224 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 162 |
| 4 | Washers | 147 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 144 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 144 |
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 | 20.0% | 1,743 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 1,230 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.2% | 537 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.3% | 370 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 322 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 214 |
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 | 6,051 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 2,143 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 394 | 17.5% |
| 90-120k | 84 | 21.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,509 | 11.5% |
| Petrol | 206 | 12.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 45 | 2.2% |
| 2022 | 171 | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 2,815 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 2,802 | 12.1% |
| 2025 | 2,882 | 12.7% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Rifter
On a 2020 Rifter, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (9.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.9% 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 2020 Peugeot Rifters pass their MOT?
88.5% of the 8,715 2020 Peugeot Rifter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Peugeot Rifter?
Visibility, recorded in 9.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.0%).
Does the 2020 Rifter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 21.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,715 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.