2004 Citroen C5 — MOT failures & pass rate
3,351 MOT tests on the 2004 Citroen C5 are in this dataset, and 70.8% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 28.0% of the time, so this is 1.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests against 14.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 331 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.2% versus 15.6%.
The diesel cars hold up better: 28.9% fail against 30.9% for petrol, a 2.0-point gap across 3,351 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.1% in 2021 to 26.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.3% | 648 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.0% | 469 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.5% | 452 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.7% | 226 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.4% | 181 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 165 |
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 | 331 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 213 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 187 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 167 |
| 5 | Parking brake performance | 161 |
| 6 | Washers | 160 |
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 | 33.3% | 1,115 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.7% | 995 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.9% | 969 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.3% | 714 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.8% | 497 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.3% | 479 |
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 | 32 | 15.6% |
| 30-60k | 272 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 723 | 29.6% |
| 90-120k | 931 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 747 | 30.1% |
| 150k+ | 645 | 31.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,769 | 28.9% |
| Petrol | 582 | 30.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,105 | 30.1% |
| 2022 | 823 | 29.0% |
| 2023 | 639 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 450 | 27.6% |
| 2025 | 334 | 26.1% |
What to check before buying a 2004 C5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.0% 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 (13.5% 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 2004 Citroen C5s pass their MOT?
70.8% of the 3,351 2004 Citroen C5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Citroen C5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests, followed by brakes (14.0%).
Does the 2004 C5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 0-30k band to 31.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,351 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.