2015 Citroen Berlingo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Citroen Berlingo passed 77.6% of its 99,348 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (21.3% fail rate), the 2015 Berlingo comes out 1.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.6% of tests against 7.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and registration plate lamp(s) — position lamp alone was recorded 10,598 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.5% in the 0-30k band and 27.0% in the 150k+ band, a 15.5-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.6% | 20,463 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.4% | 7,398 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.8% | 5,786 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 5,760 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.5% | 5,476 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.5% | 5,424 |
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 | 10,598 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 7,684 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 5,852 |
| 4 | Joints | 5,703 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 4,873 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 4,873 |
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 | 27.0% | 26,821 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.9% | 19,762 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 13,085 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.6% | 10,502 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.7% | 6,608 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.4% | 6,344 |
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 | 5,498 | 11.5% |
| 30-60k | 21,938 | 17.7% |
| 60-90k | 28,666 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 22,166 | 25.2% |
| 120-150k | 12,263 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 8,790 | 27.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 98,921 | 22.4% |
| Petrol | 369 | 15.4% |
| Electric | 48 | 16.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,909 | 18.8% |
| 2022 | 20,016 | 20.5% |
| 2023 | 20,141 | 22.9% |
| 2024 | 19,851 | 24.4% |
| 2025 | 19,431 | 25.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Berlingo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.4% 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 (5.8% 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 2015 Citroen Berlingos pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 99,348 2015 Citroen Berlingo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Citroen Berlingo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.6% of tests, followed by suspension (7.4%).
Does the 2015 Berlingo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.5% in the 0-30k band to 27.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 99,348 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.