2002 · 22 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2002 Citroen C5 MOT pass rate and common faults

233 MOT tests in 2024. 57.1% passed first time, compared with 58.1% for all cars the same age.

98About average
Passed first time57.1%
Failed or needed repairs42.9%
Typical mileage at test118,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 233 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side5.2%
  2. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.9%
  3. Service brake performance: excessively binding3.9%
  4. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.9%
  5. Position lamp: not working3.9%
  6. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.4%
  7. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.4%
  8. Air/gas/fluid suspension - pipes: leaking3.4%
  9. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements3.0%
  10. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn3.0%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Brakes32.6%
  2. Suspension26.2%
  3. Lights & electrics24.9%
  4. Body & chassis13.3%
  5. Emissions & leaks9.9%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)9.4%
  7. Tyres3.0%
  8. Steering2.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.0%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine17.6%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened16.3%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure11.6%
  5. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded10.3%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: parking brake performance: inoperative on one side. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All C5 years2003 C5 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2002 Citroen C5?

In 2024, 57.1% of 2002 Citroen C5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 233 tests. The average for all 22-year-old cars was 58.1%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2002 Citroen C5?

The most common failure reasons were parking brake performance: inoperative on one side; wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively; service brake performance: excessively binding. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2002 Citroen C5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 98, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).