2009 Citroen Berlingo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Citroen Berlingo passed 72.0% of its 59,225 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail at 28.2%, so the 2009 Berlingo sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.9% of all tests — 8.7 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and joints — position lamp alone was recorded 4,899 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.8% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.0pp more often than petrol ones (28.4% vs 25.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.9% | 12,401 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.2% | 7,226 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 5,266 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.3% | 4,328 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.1% | 3,626 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.7% | 3,380 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 4,899 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 4,706 |
| 3 | Joints | 4,401 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 3,265 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 3,095 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 2,702 |
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 | 29.4% | 17,435 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.0% | 15,387 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.5% | 13,926 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.1% | 11,891 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 10,563 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.0% | 5,944 |
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 | 595 | 16.1% |
| 30-60k | 4,643 | 20.8% |
| 60-90k | 11,786 | 25.1% |
| 90-120k | 16,729 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 13,118 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 12,296 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 52,011 | 28.4% |
| Petrol | 7,208 | 25.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,253 | 26.9% |
| 2022 | 12,733 | 27.1% |
| 2023 | 12,108 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 11,100 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 10,031 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Berlingo
On a 2009 Berlingo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.2% 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 (8.9% 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 2009 Citroen Berlingos pass their MOT?
72.0% of the 59,225 2009 Citroen Berlingo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Citroen Berlingo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.9% of tests, followed by suspension (12.2%).
Does the 2009 Berlingo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.1% in the 0-30k band to 30.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 59,225 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.