2019 Citroen Berlingo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Citroen Berlingo passed 84.1% of its 75,364 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (15.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests against 7.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 4,470 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.8% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 11.3% fail against 16.3% for diesel, a 5.0-point gap across 75,067 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 8,933 |
| 2 | Visibility | 7.6% | 5,704 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.1% | 3,851 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.1% | 3,810 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 1,491 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 1,181 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 4,470 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,754 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 3,226 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 3,077 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 3,010 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 2,550 |
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 | 23.4% | 17,655 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.8% | 13,403 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 6,457 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.5% | 4,871 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.9% | 3,674 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 3,614 |
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 | 19,310 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 28,265 | 16.2% |
| 60-90k | 17,280 | 18.7% |
| 90-120k | 7,227 | 19.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,317 | 20.5% |
| 150k+ | 950 | 21.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 70,108 | 16.3% |
| Petrol | 4,959 | 11.3% |
| Electric | 297 | 9.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 631 | 10.5% |
| 2022 | 19,172 | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 19,141 | 16.3% |
| 2024 | 18,538 | 16.1% |
| 2025 | 17,882 | 16.3% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Berlingo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (7.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (5.1% 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 2019 Citroen Berlingos pass their MOT?
84.1% of the 75,364 2019 Citroen Berlingo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Citroen Berlingo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by visibility (7.6%).
Does the 2019 Berlingo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 21.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 75,364 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.