2002 Citroen C5 — MOT failures & pass rate
2,294 MOT tests on the 2002 Citroen C5 are in this dataset, and 70.6% of them passed. Against large family cars of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), the 2002 C5 comes out 1.3pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.2% of tests against 13.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 193 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.9% in the 30-60k band and 31.9% in the 150k+ band, a 7.9-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 29.2% of the time against 29.9% for petrol.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.8% in 2021 to 27.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 395 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.7% | 314 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.2% | 280 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 211 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.1% | 140 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 131 |
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 | 193 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 124 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 112 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 105 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 100 |
| 6 | Joints | 99 |
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 | 31.8% | 729 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.1% | 622 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.9% | 618 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.3% | 443 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.0% | 435 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.2% | 327 |
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 | 213 | 23.9% |
| 60-90k | 452 | 26.6% |
| 90-120k | 465 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 477 | 31.4% |
| 150k+ | 675 | 31.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,775 | 29.2% |
| Petrol | 519 | 29.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 805 | 29.8% |
| 2022 | 566 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 394 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 306 | 31.1% |
| 2025 | 223 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2002 C5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.7% 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 (12.2% 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 C5s pass their MOT?
70.6% of the 2,294 2002 Citroen C5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Citroen C5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by brakes (13.7%).
Does the 2002 C5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.9% in the 30-60k band to 31.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,294 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.