Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Peugeot Ion?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2012 Peugeot Ion?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2012 Peugeot Ion?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2012 Peugeot Ion vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

30% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2012 Peugeot Ion reliable?

Based on MOT data from 222 vehicles, the 2012 Peugeot Ion has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Peugeot Ion?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Peugeot Ion are: Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (1.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (1.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (1.9% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2012 Peugeot Ion?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Peugeot Ion (2012)

222 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.3% first-time pass rate

2012 Peugeot Ion

CarHunch analysed 222 real MOT records for the 2012 Peugeot Ion. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2012 Peugeot ION passes its MOT on first attempt 83.4% of the time, slightly above the UK average of 80%, which is a solid result—though the concerning figure here is that 30.2% of these cars have recorded at least one dangerous defect during their MOT history, well above what you'd want to see. That's a reliability red flag worth investigating on a per-vehicle basis before purchase.

These IONs are running low mileage for their age, with a median of just 29,316 miles, suggesting they've been lightly used, which helps explain the decent pass rate. However, owners are dealing with an average of 13.9 advisories per vehicle—well above the norm for a small city car—pointing to accumulated wear on trim, lights, and minor components that need watching; before buying, ask the seller for full MOT history to spot whether advisory issues are mounting quickly or staying stable.

We have limited data for the 2012 Peugeot Ion — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

85.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

30.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.73

Over 10.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

29k

Middle half: 20k–41k

For context

These stats describe 222 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 222 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 1.9%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 1.9%

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Brake wear 1.2%

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 1.2%

Central Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened

Lighting 0.9%

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 222 Peugeot Ion cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Peugeot Ion

Based on MOT data from 222 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 30.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 472 Peugeot Ion vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 37.9%

179

Silver 35.8%

169

Blue 12.5%

Black 8.7%

Red 5.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Peugeot Ion vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

29,316

typical

20,377

low mileage

41,461

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Peugeot Ion vehicles fall between 20,377 and 41,461 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 20,377 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 20,377–41,461 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Peugeot Ions sit.

⚠ Over 55,972 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Peugeot Ion — Still on the Road

Most 2012 Peugeot Ions are still being driven.

152 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 78% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

10.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.73

Avg failures per vehicle

13.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Peugeot Ion: All Ion years → Which year to buy? →

2011

Or browse all models: Peugeot →

Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Peugeot Ion stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing