1992 Citroen C15 — MOT failures & pass rate
542 MOT tests on the 1992 Citroen C15 are in this dataset, and 67.2% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 23.0% of the time, so this is 9.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.9% of tests against 17.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and headlamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 90 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 32.4% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 40.9% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 33.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 35.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 24.9% | 135 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.0% | 92 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 73 |
| 4 | Suspension | 13.1% | 71 |
| 5 | Visibility | 11.6% | 63 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.7% | 20 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 90 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 79 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 70 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 67 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 49 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 44 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 27.9% | 151 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.6% | 144 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.3% | 132 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.1% | 109 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.9% | 86 |
| 6 | Tyres | 15.5% | 84 |
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 | 34 | 32.4% |
| 60-90k | 156 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 214 | 35.5% |
| 120-150k | 93 | 35.5% |
| 150k+ | 44 | 40.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 130 | 33.1% |
| 2022 | 120 | 34.2% |
| 2023 | 115 | 32.2% |
| 2024 | 95 | 29.5% |
| 2025 | 82 | 35.4% |
What to check before buying a 1992 C15
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 24.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (24.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.0% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1992 Citroen C15s pass their MOT?
67.2% of the 542 1992 Citroen C15 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Citroen C15?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.9% of tests, followed by brakes (17.0%).
Does the 1992 C15 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.4% in the 30-60k band to 40.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 542 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.