2005 Citroen C2 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 15,251 MOT tests, the 2005 Citroen C2 recorded a 68.7% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 28.8% of the time, so this is 2.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.5%) and suspension (17.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, ball joint and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,234 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 36.3% versus 14.6%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 31.0% fail against 33.4% for diesel, a 2.4-point gap across 15,251 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.5% | 2,824 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.6% | 2,682 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 1,570 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.7% | 1,484 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.1% | 1,090 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.9% | 905 |
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 | 1,234 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 851 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 837 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 837 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 828 |
| 6 | Wipers | 767 |
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 | 33.5% | 5,109 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.9% | 4,410 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.0% | 3,810 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.8% | 3,025 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.4% | 2,649 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.6% | 2,381 |
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 | 396 | 14.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,604 | 24.5% |
| 60-90k | 5,295 | 31.2% |
| 90-120k | 4,625 | 34.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,767 | 36.2% |
| 150k+ | 545 | 36.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 13,435 | 31.0% |
| Diesel | 1,816 | 33.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,874 | 31.4% |
| 2022 | 3,740 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 2,963 | 32.1% |
| 2024 | 2,131 | 31.2% |
| 2025 | 1,543 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a 2005 C2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.6% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.3% 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 2005 Citroen C2s pass their MOT?
68.7% of the 15,251 2005 Citroen C2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Citroen C2?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests, followed by suspension (17.6%).
Does the 2005 C2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 0-30k band to 36.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,251 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.