Citroen C5 Vtr MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 4,154 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 35.9%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Citroen C5 Vtr MOT Reliability Overview
The Citroen C5 Vtr is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 4,154 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 9 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 64.1% and a failure rate of 35.9%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Citroen C5 Vtr earns a "Average" reliability rating. The average Citroen C5 Vtr presents for MOT with approximately 82,695 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2012 models achieve the highest pass rate at 80.6%, while 2004 models have the lowest at 58.5%. This 22.1 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Citroen C5 Vtr is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 34.5% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Brakes at 21.8%. Tyres rounds out the top three at 18.2%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Tracking how each manufacture year's MOT pass rate changes as the car ages. Showing 2 vintages — click year chips to highlight.
Multi-line chart showing how different Citroen C5 Vtr vintages degrade over time, from age 3 to 20 years.
Only vintages with 100+ tests in at least 3 different test years are shown. Fleet average is the UK-wide pass rate for all cars at each age.
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Citroen C5 Vtr. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 3 to 12 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Citroen C5 Vtr shows a moderate increase in MOT failures after warranty. The 32% increase is typical — plan for gradual maintenance cost increases. Peak failure occurs at age 12 (47.0% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 44.7% | 1,856 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.8% | 1,197 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.1% | 916 |
| 4 | Suspension | 20.3% | 843 |
| 5 | Driver's View Of The Road | 9.1% | 380 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.7% | 236 |
| 7 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 1.3% | 53 |
| 8 | Registration Plates And Vin | 1.0% | 43 |
| 9 | Body, Structure And General Items | 1.0% | 42 |
| 10 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.7% | 31 |
| 11 | Road Wheels | 0.6% | 26 |
| 12 | Items Not Tested | 0.3% | 13 |
| 13 | Non-component Advisories | 0.2% | 10 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 82,695 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 5.40 | 44.7% | 1,856 |
| Brakes | 3.48 | 28.8% | 1,197 |
| Tyres | 2.67 | 22.1% | 916 |
| Suspension | 2.45 | 20.3% | 843 |
| Visibility | 1.11 | 9.1% | 380 |
| Steering | 0.69 | 5.7% | 236 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.15 | 1.3% | 53 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.13 | 1.0% | 43 |
| Body & Structure | 0.12 | 1.0% | 42 |
| Seat Belts | 0.09 | 0.7% | 31 |
| Wheels | 0.08 | 0.6% | 26 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.04 | 0.3% | 13 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.03 | 0.2% | 10 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Citroen C5 Vtr has 82,695 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Citroen C5 Vtr has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.34% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Citroen C5 Vtr MOT Data
The Citroen C5 Vtr is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 4,154 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 9 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 64.1% and a failure rate of 35.9%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Citroen C5 Vtr owners, these results suggest average reliability — some preparation before MOT can improve pass chances. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and brakes for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific C5 Vtr is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.5% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 34.5% of MOT failures on the Citroen C5 Vtr. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Brakes — 21.8% of failures
Brakes issues account for 21.8% of MOT failures on the Citroen C5 Vtr. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Tyres — 18.2% of failures
Tyres issues account for 18.2% of MOT failures on the Citroen C5 Vtr. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Citroen C5 Vtr?
Based on 4,154 MOT tests in our database, the Citroen C5 Vtr has an overall pass rate of 64.1% (35.9% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Citroen C5 Vtr?
The top 3 reasons a Citroen C5 Vtr fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (34.5%), 2. Brakes (21.8%), 3. Tyres (18.2%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Citroen C5 Vtr reliable?
With a 35.9% MOT failure rate, the C5 Vtr is about average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Citroen C5 Vtr?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (34.5%); Brakes (21.8%); Tyres (18.2%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.