Citroen C15 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Citroen C15 appears in 7,563 MOT tests spanning model years 1985–2018, and 66.5% of them passed. That is 8.5 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.0%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 25.5% of all tests — 9.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,307 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 30.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 39.3% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every C15 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 32 | 59.4% | 40.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 39 | 59.0% | 41.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 55 | 67.3% | 32.7% | Suspension |
| 1989 | 200 | 68.0% | 32.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 330 | 67.3% | 32.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 320 | 65.0% | 35.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 542 | 67.2% | 32.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 586 | 64.3% | 35.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 650 | 66.1% | 33.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 573 | 66.1% | 33.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 529 | 65.8% | 34.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 506 | 66.6% | 33.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 348 | 66.1% | 33.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 299 | 70.2% | 29.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 417 | 63.5% | 36.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 456 | 66.5% | 33.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 526 | 70.0% | 30.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 246 | 67.9% | 32.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 331 | 65.9% | 34.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 400 | 67.3% | 32.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 169 | 66.3% | 33.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 25.5% | 1,931 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.4% | 1,238 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.9% | 1,127 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 1,014 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.5% | 640 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.2% | 318 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.7% | 283 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.2% | 244 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,307 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,142 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 942 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 855 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 547 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 535 |
| 7 | Prescribed areas | 469 |
| 8 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 452 |
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 | 28.0% | 2,116 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.1% | 2,052 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.6% | 1,787 |
| 4 | Tyres | 16.8% | 1,272 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.8% | 1,197 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.8% | 970 |
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 | 126 | 30.9% |
| 30-60k | 885 | 27.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,487 | 31.6% |
| 90-120k | 2,411 | 34.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,175 | 36.9% |
| 150k+ | 473 | 39.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,490 | 33.5% |
| Petrol | 73 | 30.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,828 | 32.7% |
| 2022 | 1,717 | 33.8% |
| 2023 | 1,506 | 33.9% |
| 2024 | 1,369 | 34.3% |
| 2025 | 1,143 | 32.9% |
What to check before buying a Citroen C15
- Lighting & signalling (25.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.4% 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.
- Suspension (14.9% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Citroen C15?
66.5% of the 7,563 Citroen C15 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 33.5% fail rate, across model years 1985–2018.
What does the Citroen C15 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 25.5% of tests, then brakes (16.4%).
How much does mileage affect C15 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 30.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 39.3% for 150k+, a 8.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,563 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.