Used car guide

2011 Peugeot 207: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Peugeot 207s, from 19,404 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

19,404MOT tests in 2025

50%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)

5,900typical miles a year

2.6×the usual rate for exhaust system

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Peugeot 207s than on all cars registered in 2011.

Exhaust system2.6× usual

Peugeot 207
16.9% All 2011 cars
6.4%

Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 1.7% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.
Number plate lights1.9× usual

Peugeot 207
15.3% All 2011 cars
8.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 4.4%, against 2.3% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.
Drive shaft (CV) joints2.5× usual

Peugeot 207
11.8% All 2011 cars
4.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 8.5%, against 2.2% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.
Headlights2.2× usual

Peugeot 207
12.5% All 2011 cars
5.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 7%, against 3.2% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.
Engine oil leaks1.6× usual

Peugeot 207
14.3% All 2011 cars
8.9%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.2% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 3% here, against 10.8% of all 2011 cars. Shock absorbers: 1.5% here, against 7.6% of all 2011 cars.

By area

The share of 2011 Peugeot 207 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Lights and electrics

44% of testsRough price £10–£80

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
Suspension

40% of testsRough price £120–£400

At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
Tyres

36% of testsRough price £70–£150

At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
Brakes

29% of testsRough price £150–£350

At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
Exhaust and emissions

18% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.
Oil and fluid leaks

16% of testsRough price £80–£600

At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Peugeot 207?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2014	961	Brakes 36%
2013	2,635	Lights and electrics 34%
2012	12,631	Lights and electrics 42%
2010	22,207	Suspension 45%
2009	20,735	Suspension 46%
2008	15,996	Lights and electrics 45%
2007	14,346	Lights and electrics 47%
2006	4,126	Lights and electrics 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2011 Peugeot 207s registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score