2009 Citroen C Crosser — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,695 MOT tests, the 2009 Citroen C Crosser recorded a 71.6% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 25.3% of the time, so this is 3.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.8%) and lighting & signalling (14.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, position lamp and ball joint — track rod end alone was recorded 353 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.0% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 31.0% once past 150k — 4.4× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 42.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.8% | 585 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 525 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.3% | 379 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.8% | 325 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.9% | 182 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 167 |
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 | 353 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 329 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 302 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 251 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 201 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 160 |
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 | 42.1% | 1,556 |
| 2 | Brakes | 40.7% | 1,503 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.5% | 1,052 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.7% | 617 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 557 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.0% | 479 |
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 | 57 | 7.0% |
| 60-90k | 492 | 23.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,219 | 27.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,222 | 30.6% |
| 150k+ | 699 | 31.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 881 | 27.2% |
| 2022 | 830 | 27.4% |
| 2023 | 765 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 646 | 28.2% |
| 2025 | 573 | 31.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 C Crosser
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.8% 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 (14.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.3% 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 2009 Citroen C Crossers pass their MOT?
71.6% of the 3,695 2009 Citroen C Crosser MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Citroen C Crosser?
Suspension, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.2%).
Does the 2009 C Crosser get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 30-60k band to 31.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,695 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.