2008 Citroen C Crosser — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Citroen C Crosser passed 70.3% of its 4,526 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 26.1% of the time, so this is 3.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 17.5% of all tests — 4.1 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, ball joint and rigid brake pipes — track rod end alone was recorded 398 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2008 C Crosser fails 27.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 29.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 43.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.5% | 792 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 607 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.5% | 474 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.4% | 381 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 250 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.7% | 211 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 398 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 382 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 337 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 325 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 230 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 185 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 43.5% | 1,970 |
| 2 | Brakes | 43.4% | 1,964 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.7% | 1,253 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 717 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.4% | 696 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.5% | 567 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 111 | 27.0% |
| 60-90k | 587 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,383 | 29.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,478 | 31.1% |
| 150k+ | 962 | 29.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,480 | 29.7% |
| Petrol | 46 | 28.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,147 | 28.1% |
| 2022 | 1,102 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 926 | 29.6% |
| 2024 | 746 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 605 | 31.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 C Crosser
On a 2008 C Crosser, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (17.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.5% 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 2008 Citroen C Crossers pass their MOT?
70.3% of the 4,526 2008 Citroen C Crosser MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Citroen C Crosser?
Suspension, recorded in 17.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.4%).
Does the 2008 C Crosser get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.0% in the 30-60k band to 29.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,526 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.