1990 Citroen 2Cv — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1990 Citroen 2Cv passed 79.8% of its 1,003 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests against 6.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, component mounting prescribed areas and non catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 82 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1990 2Cv fails 18.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 18.7% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.2 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 20.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 155 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 67 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 66 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.2% | 62 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.2% | 52 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 36 |
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 | 82 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 61 |
| 3 | Non catalyst emissions | 57 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 54 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 48 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 44 |
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 | 20.2% | 203 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 14.4% | 144 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.6% | 116 |
| 4 | Tyres | 9.0% | 90 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.9% | 69 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 52 |
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 | 275 | 18.9% |
| 30-60k | 264 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 373 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 91 | 18.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 205 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 201 | 19.4% |
| 2023 | 191 | 17.8% |
| 2024 | 199 | 22.1% |
| 2025 | 207 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 1990 2Cv
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.7% 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+.
- Emissions & environmental (6.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 1990 Citroen 2Cvs pass their MOT?
79.8% of the 1,003 1990 Citroen 2Cv MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Citroen 2Cv?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (6.7%).
Does the 1990 2Cv get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.9% in the 0-30k band to 18.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,003 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.