2016 Citroen Berlingo — MOT failures & pass rate
92,119 MOT tests on the 2016 Citroen Berlingo are in this dataset, and 79.4% of them passed. That is 1.0 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 19.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.4% of all tests — 14.0 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and registration plate lamp(s) — position lamp alone was recorded 9,394 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.8% in the 0-30k band and 25.9% in the 150k+ band, a 15.0-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 8.9pp more often than petrol ones (20.7% vs 11.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.4% | 17,841 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.4% | 4,991 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.4% | 4,990 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.4% | 4,980 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 4,849 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.0% | 4,635 |
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 | 9,394 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 6,149 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 5,025 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 4,255 |
| 5 | Joints | 4,160 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 4,007 |
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 | 25.5% | 23,522 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.4% | 16,939 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 11,167 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.1% | 9,294 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.3% | 5,801 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 5,667 |
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 | 8,229 | 10.8% |
| 30-60k | 24,379 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 26,737 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 18,007 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 8,914 | 25.6% |
| 150k+ | 5,839 | 25.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 91,078 | 20.7% |
| Petrol | 952 | 11.8% |
| Electric | 89 | 11.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,456 | 17.0% |
| 2022 | 18,524 | 19.0% |
| 2023 | 18,669 | 21.0% |
| 2024 | 18,305 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 18,165 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Berlingo
On a 2016 Berlingo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.4% 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.
- Brakes (5.4% 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 2016 Citroen Berlingos pass their MOT?
79.4% of the 92,119 2016 Citroen Berlingo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Citroen Berlingo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.4% of tests, followed by suspension (5.4%).
Does the 2016 Berlingo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 0-30k band to 25.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 92,119 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.