2002 Citroen C15 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Citroen C15 passed 70.0% of its 526 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.6 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 24.3% of all tests — 6.3 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 90 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.9% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 36.4% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.3% in 2021 to 25.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 24.3% | 128 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.1% | 95 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.2% | 80 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.4% | 65 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.8% | 36 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.5% | 29 |
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 | 90 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 81 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 57 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 44 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 42 |
| 6 | Joints | 40 |
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 | 27.0% | 142 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.8% | 125 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.8% | 125 |
| 4 | Tyres | 16.9% | 89 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.3% | 75 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.7% | 56 |
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 | 74 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 244 | 27.1% |
| 90-120k | 116 | 37.9% |
| 120-150k | 55 | 36.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 150 | 33.3% |
| 2022 | 125 | 27.2% |
| 2023 | 101 | 32.7% |
| 2024 | 87 | 28.7% |
| 2025 | 63 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2002 C15
On a 2002 C15, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 24.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (24.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (18.1% 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 (15.2% 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
How many 2002 Citroen C15s pass their MOT?
70.0% of the 526 2002 Citroen C15 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Citroen C15?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.3% of tests, followed by brakes (18.1%).
Does the 2002 C15 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.9% in the 30-60k band to 36.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 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.