2021 Citroen Berlingo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 12,400 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Citroen Berlingo, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres. Its pass rate of 84.0% was below the average for vans of a similar age (86.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.1% in the 150k+ group versus 11.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 1,545 |
| 2 | Visibility | 8.8% | 1,091 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.3% | 664 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.9% | 605 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 148 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 131 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,025 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 890 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 579 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 564 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 396 |
| 6 | Washers | 353 |
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 | 23.0% | 2,855 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.2% | 2,256 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.5% | 927 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.4% | 674 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.4% | 543 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 316 |
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 | 3,258 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 5,548 | 17.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,675 | 18.5% |
| 90-120k | 687 | 17.9% |
| 120-150k | 184 | 19.6% |
| 150k+ | 48 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,212 | 16.1% |
| Petrol | 186 | 9.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 278 | 14.4% |
| 2024 | 6,158 | 16.1% |
| 2025 | 5,940 | 16.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Berlingo
Before buying a 2021 Citroen Berlingo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 12.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (12.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (8.8% 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.
- Tyres (5.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2021 Citroen Berlingos pass their MOT?
84.0% of the 12,400 2021 Citroen Berlingo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Citroen Berlingo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.5% of tests, followed by visibility (8.8%).
Does the 2021 Berlingo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 27.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,400 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.