2002 Citroen Berlingo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 14,116 MOT tests, the 2002 Citroen Berlingo recorded a 70.4% pass rate. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (30.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.4% of tests against 14.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, position lamp and joints — stop lamp alone was recorded 999 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.6% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.5% of the time against 29.8% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 2,601 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.6% | 2,059 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.2% | 1,715 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 1,496 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.3% | 1,030 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.0% | 841 |
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 | 999 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 976 |
| 3 | Joints | 719 |
| 4 | Wipers | 704 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 689 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 689 |
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 | 36.4% | 5,142 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.6% | 4,177 |
| 3 | Suspension | 27.5% | 3,888 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.5% | 3,032 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.0% | 2,542 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.2% | 2,431 |
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 | 165 | 23.0% |
| 30-60k | 917 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,744 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 3,696 | 29.5% |
| 120-150k | 3,393 | 31.5% |
| 150k+ | 3,125 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,463 | 29.8% |
| Petrol | 2,653 | 28.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,193 | 29.9% |
| 2022 | 3,346 | 29.2% |
| 2023 | 2,734 | 29.4% |
| 2024 | 2,170 | 29.7% |
| 2025 | 1,673 | 29.6% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Berlingo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.6% 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 (12.2% 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 2002 Citroen Berlingos pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 14,116 2002 Citroen Berlingo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Citroen Berlingo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.4% of tests, followed by suspension (14.6%).
Does the 2002 Berlingo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.0% in the 0-30k band to 32.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,116 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.