MOT fail rates
Citroen C5 MOT fail rate by age
How often the Citroen C5 fails its MOT at each age, compared with all cars of the same age, and what it fails on. From 77,525 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025.
MOT data updated
At 3 years, the most tested age
252 of 343 model groups with enough tests fail less often at 3 years.
What stands out
- At 3 years the Citroen C5 fails 14.4% of MOTs (12,614 tests), 2.3 points above the 12.1% for all cars that age. At 21 years it fails 42.5% (1,052 tests), about the same as the 42.1% average.
- The gap is widest at 13 years: 4.8 points above all cars.
- Its most common structural or mechanical fail item at 3 years: Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn, at 0.5 per 100 MOTs.
MOT fail rate by age
Solid line: this model. Dashed line: all cars at the same age.
| Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 14.4% | 12,614 | 12.1% | +2.3 pts | 20,622 miles |
| 4 years | 15.3% | 12,490 | 13.4% | +1.9 pts | 27,932 miles |
| 5 years | 18.1% | 11,608 | 15.3% | +2.8 pts | 35,345 miles |
| 6 years | 20.2% | 6,750 | 17.8% | +2.4 pts | 42,722 miles |
| 10 years | 33.2% | 1,227 | 30.3% | +2.9 pts | 86,192 miles |
| 11 years | 34.4% | 1,713 | 33.3% | +1.1 pts | 95,232 miles |
| 12 years | 39.7% | 3,013 | 36.0% | +3.7 pts | 105,544 miles |
| 13 years | 43.1% | 5,107 | 38.3% | +4.8 pts | 112,361 miles |
| 14 years | 42.9% | 5,893 | 40.3% | +2.6 pts | 115,076 miles |
| 15 years | 44.5% | 4,922 | 41.6% | +2.9 pts | 116,905 miles |
| 16 years | 45.1% | 3,793 | 42.6% | +2.5 pts | 116,656 miles |
| 17 years | 45.1% | 2,412 | 43.1% | +2.0 pts | 115,391 miles |
| 18 years | 44.5% | 1,768 | 43.3% | +1.2 pts | 111,681 miles |
| 19 years | 44.1% | 1,703 | 43.2% | +0.9 pts | 114,541 miles |
| 20 years | 42.3% | 1,460 | 42.8% | −0.5 pts | 113,523 miles |
| 21 years | 42.5% | 1,052 | 42.1% | +0.4 pts | 112,083 miles |
Most common fail items at 3 years
Split into structural or mechanical items and wear items. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
Structural and mechanical
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs |
|---|---|
| Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn Major | 0.5 |
| Driveshaft CV boot split Major | 0.4 |
Out of 12,614 MOTs. A test with two faults counts twice.
Wear and upkeep
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs |
|---|---|
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Major | 3.3 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Major | 2.9 |
| Headlamp aim: too low Major | 2.7 |
| Brake pads under 1.5 mm Dangerous | 2.1 |
| Tyre with cords exposed Dangerous | 2.1 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Dangerous | 1.8 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Major | 0.5 |
| Headlight aimed too high Major | 0.4 |
Out of 12,614 MOTs. A test with two faults counts twice.
Other models at 3 years
| Model | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citroen C3 | 8.8% | 37,861 | 12.1% |
| Citroen C3 Aircross | 9.3% | 25,838 | 12.1% |
| Citroen C4 | 16.7% | 18,009 | 12.1% |
MOT fail rate by first-use year
Each year has its own page: the fail rate for cars first used that year at each MOT from 2022 to 2025 with at least 1,000 tests, the most common faults at that age, and the car tax and ULEZ rules for that year.
First-use year data updated .
More on the Citroen C5
Looking at one Citroen C5?
These are figures for the model, not for one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at a single car: its MOT tests, defects, advisories and mileage readings.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 22 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources