2021 Peugeot Rifter — MOT failures & pass rate
3,985 MOT tests on the 2021 Peugeot Rifter are in this dataset, and 88.9% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (8.6% fail rate), the 2021 Rifter comes out 2.5pp worse. Failures cluster in visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: visibility, recorded in 11.3% of tests against 5.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and headlamp — wipers alone was recorded 517 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.7% in the 0-30k band and 14.1% in the 60-90k band, a 4.4-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 10.9% of the time against 11.7% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.9% of tests failed in 2023 against 13.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 11.3% | 449 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 204 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.9% | 115 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.8% | 73 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 23 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 517 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 115 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 81 |
| 4 | Washers | 69 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 46 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 36 |
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 | 17.7% | 705 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.6% | 581 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.4% | 256 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.2% | 208 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 87 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 81 |
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 | 3,087 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 784 | 16.4% |
| 60-90k | 85 | 14.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,715 | 10.9% |
| Petrol | 1,252 | 11.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 63 | 7.9% |
| 2024 | 1,874 | 8.4% |
| 2025 | 2,026 | 13.9% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Rifter
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 11.3% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (11.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.1% 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 2021 Peugeot Rifters pass their MOT?
88.9% of the 3,985 2021 Peugeot Rifter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Peugeot Rifter?
Visibility, recorded in 11.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.1%).
Does the 2021 Rifter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 14.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,985 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.