1990 Citroen C25 — MOT failures & pass rate
280 MOT tests on the 1990 Citroen C25 are in this dataset, and 68.9% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (21.7% fail rate), the 1990 C25 comes out 9.3pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 27.5% of all tests — 12.9 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and component mounting prescribed areas — headlamp aim alone was recorded 45 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1990 C25 fails 33.3% of the time in the 30-60k band and 35.3% at 120-150k, a spread of only 2.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 32.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 34.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 27.5% | 77 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.6% | 41 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.6% | 38 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.1% | 34 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.6% | 27 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.6% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 45 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 45 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 38 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 30 |
| 5 | Wipers | 29 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 27 |
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 | 40.4% | 113 |
| 2 | Suspension | 40.0% | 112 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.6% | 69 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.5% | 63 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 47 |
| 6 | Tyres | 15.4% | 43 |
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 | 36 | 33.3% |
| 60-90k | 90 | 35.6% |
| 90-120k | 79 | 27.9% |
| 120-150k | 51 | 35.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 53 | 32.1% |
| 2022 | 64 | 31.3% |
| 2023 | 50 | 26.0% |
| 2024 | 58 | 31.0% |
| 2025 | 55 | 34.5% |
What to check before buying a 1990 C25
On a 1990 C25, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 27.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (27.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.6% 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 (13.6% 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 1990 Citroen C25s pass their MOT?
68.9% of the 280 1990 Citroen C25 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Citroen C25?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 27.5% of tests, followed by brakes (14.6%).
Does the 1990 C25 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 33.3% in the 30-60k band to 35.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 280 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.