2001 Citroen Berlingo — MOT failures & pass rate
8,165 MOT tests on the 2001 Citroen Berlingo are in this dataset, and 69.9% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail at 29.8%, so the 2001 Berlingo sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.9% of all tests — 5.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, service brake performance and position lamp — stop lamp alone was recorded 584 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.5% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 29.9% of the time against 30.8% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.9% | 1,545 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.6% | 1,108 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.0% | 1,064 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.5% | 854 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.5% | 616 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.7% | 465 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 584 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 559 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 532 |
| 4 | Wipers | 459 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 390 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 385 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 36.8% | 3,001 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.0% | 2,450 |
| 3 | Suspension | 29.4% | 2,405 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 23.8% | 1,942 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.8% | 1,617 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.4% | 1,420 |
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 | 108 | 25.9% |
| 30-60k | 505 | 23.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,486 | 28.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,104 | 30.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,832 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 2,048 | 31.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,158 | 29.9% |
| Petrol | 1,999 | 30.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,429 | 30.8% |
| 2022 | 1,996 | 31.2% |
| 2023 | 1,549 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 1,234 | 29.3% |
| 2025 | 957 | 30.5% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Berlingo
On a 2001 Berlingo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.6% 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.
- Brakes (13.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2001 Citroen Berlingos pass their MOT?
69.9% of the 8,165 2001 Citroen Berlingo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Citroen Berlingo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.9% of tests, followed by suspension (13.6%).
Does the 2001 Berlingo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.9% in the 0-30k band to 31.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,165 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.