2005 Citroen Berlingo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Citroen Berlingo passed 70.4% of its 31,795 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail at 29.7%, so the 2005 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 19.3% of all tests — 4.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, position lamp and wipers — stop lamp alone was recorded 2,296 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.4% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.9pp more often than petrol ones (30.1% vs 27.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 30.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.3% | 6,124 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.8% | 4,702 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.8% | 3,099 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 2,958 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.8% | 2,158 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.3% | 1,995 |
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 | 2,296 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,969 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,532 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,483 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,461 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 1,446 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 30.0% | 9,554 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.2% | 9,295 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.9% | 9,177 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 23.1% | 7,340 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 5,751 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.4% | 4,586 |
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 | 283 | 15.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,071 | 22.1% |
| 60-90k | 6,061 | 26.0% |
| 90-120k | 9,024 | 30.5% |
| 120-150k | 7,828 | 31.7% |
| 150k+ | 6,450 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 26,305 | 30.1% |
| Petrol | 5,482 | 27.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,834 | 29.6% |
| 2022 | 7,503 | 29.2% |
| 2023 | 6,268 | 29.0% |
| 2024 | 5,167 | 30.8% |
| 2025 | 4,023 | 30.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Berlingo
On a 2005 Berlingo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.8% 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 (9.8% 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 2005 Citroen Berlingos pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 31,795 2005 Citroen Berlingo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Citroen Berlingo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests, followed by suspension (14.8%).
Does the 2005 Berlingo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.2% in the 0-30k band to 32.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,795 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.