The UK's most popular wheelchair accessible vehicle
The Peugeot Horizon is not a standalone car model but a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) conversion of the Peugeot Partner and later the Peugeot Rifter, produced in partnership with Allied Mobility. It is the UK's most popular WAV, aimed at families and individuals needing rear-entry wheelchair access. It competes with Brotherwood and Sirus WAV conversions of similar van-based MPVs.
We track 5 known issues across the Peugeot Horizon range, with 2 classified as significant. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Peugeot Horizon? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
GEN1 (2011–2019) — Petrol options included the 1.6 VTi, with 1.6 HDi on the diesel side. We track 5 known issues on this generation, with 2 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Front coil spring failure (£200–£350 to address).
Coil spring fractures occur at over 21 times the national average, particularly affecting petrol variants from very low mileage. The failure pattern suggests inadequate spring steel quality or incorrect spring rate specification for the vehicle weight. Spring failures from new indicate a fundamental design or manufacturing defect. The high failure rate across both engine variants suggests a common suspension supplier or specification issue.
A broken coil spring affects vehicle handling and braking stability, creating a direct safety risk. The broken spring can damage the tyre, shock absorber, or brake lines. The vehicle should not be driven with a known broken spring due to unpredictable handling characteristics.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
The 1.6L diesel shows severe emissions test problems with smoke opacity levels exceeding limits at nearly 29 times the national average, plus high rates of emissions tests being impossible to complete. This indicates widespread DPF (diesel particulate filter) blockage and regeneration system failures. The pattern is typical of DPF systems that cannot complete regeneration cycles due to short urban journeys or faulty sensors.
A blocked DPF prevents the car from passing the MOT emissions test and can cause engine warning lights, reduced power, and poor fuel economy. Professional DPF cleaning costs £200-400. Complete DPF replacement costs £1,500-2,500. Continued driving with a failed DPF can damage the turbocharger and other engine components.
Ask about the car's typical usage — short urban journeys prevent DPF regeneration. Check for DPF warning lights and ask about any previous regeneration issues. A forced regeneration at a garage costs far less than a DPF replacement.
The exhaust system on both 1.6L petrol and diesel variants shows exceptionally high failure rates across all mileage ranges, peaking at over 31 times the national average on low-mileage diesel examples. The failures appear to affect exhaust mounting brackets, flexible sections, and joint sealing throughout the system. This suggests either inadequate corrosion protection or poor-quality exhaust components fitted from the factory. The pattern affects cars from new, indicating a design or manufacturing issue rather than normal wear.
Exhaust leaks cause noise, potential carbon monoxide ingress into the cabin, and MOT failure. Complete exhaust system replacement may be required on higher-mileage examples where corrosion is extensive. Mounting failures can cause exhaust damage from contact with the road surface.
Check for any engine warning lights on the dashboard. Ask about the car's MOT emissions history — repeated failures suggest underlying issues. A pre-purchase diagnostic scan is especially worthwhile to check for stored emissions fault codes.
CV joint boots fail at over 23 times the national average, with both missing boots and severely deteriorated boots showing as common MOT failures across all mileage ranges. The high failure rate from low mileage suggests poor-quality boot material or inadequate clamp design. Once the boot fails, contamination destroys the CV joint within a few thousand miles, requiring complete driveshaft replacement rather than simple boot renewal.
Failed boots allow dirt and water into the CV joints, destroying them within a few thousand miles. This requires complete driveshaft replacement costing £300-600 per side. Early boot replacement prevents joint damage and costs significantly less than waiting for joint failure.
Listen for clunking or vibration from underneath when pulling away or changing direction. Check for play in the driveshafts by rocking the car in gear with the handbrake on. Worn CV boots are a telltale sign — look for grease splatter around the inner wheel arch.
The 1.6L petrol engine shows lambda sensor failures at over 11 times the national average, with the lambda coefficient falling outside manufacturer limits during MOT emissions testing. This indicates problems with oxygen sensors in the exhaust system that monitor and control the air-fuel mixture. Failed lambda sensors cause increased emissions, poor fuel economy, and MOT failure.
Failed lambda sensors cause MOT emissions test failure, increased fuel consumption, and potential catalytic converter damage if left unrepaired. The car will run but with reduced efficiency and higher emissions. Multiple lambda sensors may need replacement simultaneously.
Check all electrical functions systematically: windows, mirrors, lights, infotainment, heated seats, air conditioning. Look for any warning lights on the dashboard. A diagnostic scan before purchase can reveal stored fault codes.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Peugeot Horizon common problems page.
Based on 45k real DVSA MOT tests, the Peugeot Horizon fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is seat mounting fault at 103x the fleet average, followed by transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot... (42x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Peugeot Horizon MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 13k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
See the full Peugeot Horizon service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Peugeot Horizon is a reasonable used buy provided you check for the issues outlined above. None of the problems we track are insurmountable, but they do reward buyers who inspect thoroughly and verify the service history before committing. The Rifter-based Horizon models from 2019 onwards are the best, built on Peugeot's modern EMP2 platform with better safety tech, the refined 1.2 PureTech petrol or 1.5 BlueHDi diesel engines, and improved ride quality over the older Partner-based versions.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Peugeot Horizon, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 5 known Peugeot Horizon issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.