1986 Citroen 2Cv — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1986 Citroen 2Cv passed 80.0% of its 2,571 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail at 20.4%, so the 1986 2Cv sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.6% of all tests — 10.5 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rear fog lamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 183 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1986 2Cv fails 19.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 22.4% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 21.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.1% in 2021 to 16.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 426 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 155 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.0% | 155 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.5% | 142 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 121 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 100 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 183 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 154 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 147 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 118 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 101 |
| 6 | Non catalyst emissions | 80 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 21.4% | 551 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 15.1% | 389 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 371 |
| 4 | Tyres | 9.8% | 252 |
| 5 | Brakes | 8.6% | 222 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.5% | 193 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 594 | 19.4% |
| 30-60k | 715 | 20.1% |
| 60-90k | 894 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 362 | 22.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 511 | 22.1% |
| 2022 | 515 | 21.2% |
| 2023 | 530 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 504 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 511 | 16.8% |
What to check before buying a 1986 2Cv
On a 1986 2Cv, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.0% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (6.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1986 Citroen 2Cvs pass their MOT?
80.0% of the 2,571 1986 Citroen 2Cv MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 Citroen 2Cv?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (6.0%).
Does the 1986 2Cv get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.4% in the 0-30k band to 22.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,571 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.