Citroen C25 MOT pass rate & common failures
1,113 MOT tests on the Citroen C25 (1988–2020) give it a 70.6% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (22.3% fail rate), the C25 comes out 7.1pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.6% of tests against 13.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, headlamp aim and component mounting prescribed areas — headlamp alone was recorded 161 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 24.6% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 29.2% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.2% in 2021 to 28.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every C25 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 72 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 240 | 67.1% | 32.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 280 | 68.9% | 31.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 162 | 72.8% | 27.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 139 | 70.5% | 29.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 96 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 24.6% | 274 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.2% | 147 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.1% | 146 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.3% | 103 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.2% | 91 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.2% | 36 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.0% | 34 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.7% | 30 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 161 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 150 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 132 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 92 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 87 |
| 6 | Wipers | 80 |
| 7 | Joints | 80 |
| 8 | Rigid brake pipes | 63 |
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 | 38.4% | 427 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.4% | 361 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.8% | 276 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.1% | 190 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 170 |
| 6 | Tyres | 14.5% | 161 |
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 | 118 | 24.6% |
| 60-90k | 377 | 29.2% |
| 90-120k | 327 | 31.5% |
| 120-150k | 171 | 29.2% |
| 150k+ | 113 | 29.2% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 998 | 29.2% |
| Petrol | 115 | 31.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 269 | 31.2% |
| 2022 | 244 | 27.1% |
| 2023 | 217 | 30.4% |
| 2024 | 203 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 180 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a Citroen C25
- Lighting & signalling (24.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.2% 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 (13.1% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Citroen C25?
70.6% of the 1,113 Citroen C25 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 29.4% fail rate, across model years 1988–2020.
What does the Citroen C25 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.6% of tests, then brakes (13.2%).
How much does mileage affect C25 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 24.6% for cars in the 30-60k band and 29.2% for 150k+, a 4.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,113 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.