2004 Citroen Berlingo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 29,883 MOT tests, the 2004 Citroen Berlingo recorded a 70.1% pass rate. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (29.9% 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 19.9% of tests against 14.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, position lamp and rigid brake pipes — stop lamp alone was recorded 2,000 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.0% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 28.5% fail against 30.2% for diesel, a 1.7-point gap across 29,877 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.7% 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 | 19.9% | 5,956 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.7% | 4,397 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.0% | 3,288 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 2,564 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.2% | 2,157 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.0% | 1,781 |
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 | 2,000 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,944 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,598 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,463 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,370 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,351 |
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 | 33.7% | 10,071 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.8% | 8,908 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.2% | 8,441 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.6% | 6,470 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.7% | 5,276 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.6% | 4,370 |
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 | 235 | 17.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,010 | 22.1% |
| 60-90k | 5,292 | 26.7% |
| 90-120k | 8,407 | 29.9% |
| 120-150k | 7,626 | 31.8% |
| 150k+ | 6,251 | 33.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 24,117 | 30.2% |
| Petrol | 5,760 | 28.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,516 | 30.1% |
| 2022 | 7,026 | 29.9% |
| 2023 | 5,875 | 30.1% |
| 2024 | 4,738 | 29.8% |
| 2025 | 3,728 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Berlingo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.7% 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 (11.0% 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 2004 Citroen Berlingos pass their MOT?
70.1% of the 29,883 2004 Citroen Berlingo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Citroen Berlingo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.9% of tests, followed by suspension (14.7%).
Does the 2004 Berlingo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.0% in the 0-30k band to 33.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 29,883 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.