2008 Citroen Berlingo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 43,204 MOT tests, the 2008 Citroen Berlingo recorded a 71.1% pass rate. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (28.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.3% of tests against 13.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, position lamp and joints — stop lamp alone was recorded 3,291 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.1% versus 18.3%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.2% fail against 29.3% for diesel, a 2.1-point gap across 43,200 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.3% | 8,784 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.0% | 5,625 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 3,710 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.4% | 3,627 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.0% | 2,581 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 2,531 |
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 | 3,291 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 2,759 |
| 3 | Joints | 2,567 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,107 |
| 5 | Horn | 1,939 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 1,836 |
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 | 29.8% | 12,871 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.3% | 11,376 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.2% | 10,446 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.0% | 9,503 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 7,532 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.5% | 4,976 |
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 | 367 | 18.3% |
| 30-60k | 3,131 | 23.4% |
| 60-90k | 8,756 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 12,613 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 9,923 | 31.0% |
| 150k+ | 8,373 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 35,246 | 29.3% |
| Petrol | 7,954 | 27.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,505 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 9,803 | 28.9% |
| 2023 | 8,777 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 7,681 | 30.1% |
| 2025 | 6,438 | 29.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Berlingo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.0% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.6% 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+.
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 2008 Citroen Berlingos pass their MOT?
71.1% of the 43,204 2008 Citroen Berlingo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Citroen Berlingo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.3% of tests, followed by suspension (13.0%).
Does the 2008 Berlingo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.3% in the 0-30k band to 30.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 43,204 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.