2011 Citroen Berlingo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 57,355 MOT tests, the 2011 Citroen Berlingo recorded a 72.6% pass rate. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (26.6% 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 21.5% of tests against 12.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and joints — position lamp alone was recorded 5,461 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.4% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 24.8% fail against 27.5% for diesel, a 2.6-point gap across 57,350 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.5% | 12,309 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.6% | 7,242 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 4,378 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 4,134 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.1% | 3,501 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.9% | 3,386 |
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 | 5,461 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 4,551 |
| 3 | Joints | 3,638 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 3,159 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 3,075 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 3,048 |
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 | 29.1% | 16,681 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.1% | 13,826 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.1% | 13,255 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 9,763 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.2% | 5,838 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.4% | 5,415 |
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 | 1,025 | 15.1% |
| 30-60k | 5,632 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 11,733 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 14,680 | 28.3% |
| 120-150k | 11,947 | 30.0% |
| 150k+ | 12,254 | 30.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 56,520 | 27.5% |
| Petrol | 830 | 24.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,468 | 26.2% |
| 2022 | 12,130 | 26.4% |
| 2023 | 11,822 | 27.8% |
| 2024 | 10,848 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 10,087 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Berlingo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 21.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (21.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.6% 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 (7.6% 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 2011 Citroen Berlingos pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 57,355 2011 Citroen Berlingo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Citroen Berlingo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.5% of tests, followed by suspension (12.6%).
Does the 2011 Berlingo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.1% in the 0-30k band to 30.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 57,355 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.