Used car guide

2016 Peugeot Independence: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Peugeot Independences, from 512 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

512MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
7,200typical miles a year
6.8×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Peugeot Independences than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints6.8× usual
    Peugeot Independence
    12.9% All 2016 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.8%, against 1.1% of all 2016 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.

  • Exhaust system4.7× usual
    Peugeot Independence
    9.4% All 2016 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.5% of all 2016 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.

  • Sidelights4.2× usual
    Peugeot Independence
    5.9% All 2016 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.7%, against 1.2% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Engine oil leaks2.2× usual
    Peugeot Independence
    6.1% All 2016 cars
    2.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.1% of all 2016 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

Tyre condition: 6.2% here, against 13.3% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Peugeot Independence MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    23% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    22% 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
    21% 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.

  • Suspension
    15% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    14% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    11% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2015608Lights and electrics 27%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 Peugeot Independences registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score