2005 Citroen C5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Citroen C5 passed 70.5% of its 2,817 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.7 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.4% of all tests — 7.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rbt (sp) and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 493 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 22.2% in the 0-30k band and 30.1% in the 150k+ band, a 7.9-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.0pp more often than petrol ones (29.8% vs 27.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 33.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.8% in 2021 to 27.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.4% | 575 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.0% | 367 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.0% | 366 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.7% | 160 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 153 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.6% | 129 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 493 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 146 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 128 |
| 4 | Parking brake performance | 127 |
| 5 | Washers | 120 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 119 |
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% | 938 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.1% | 819 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.2% | 794 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.3% | 431 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.4% | 407 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 388 |
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 | 45 | 22.2% |
| 30-60k | 188 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 582 | 26.8% |
| 90-120k | 846 | 31.3% |
| 120-150k | 631 | 32.5% |
| 150k+ | 525 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,300 | 29.8% |
| Petrol | 517 | 27.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 950 | 29.8% |
| 2022 | 710 | 31.3% |
| 2023 | 494 | 27.7% |
| 2024 | 388 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 275 | 27.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 C5
On a 2005 C5, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.0% 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.
- Brakes (13.0% 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.
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 C5s pass their MOT?
70.5% of the 2,817 2005 Citroen C5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Citroen C5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.4% of tests, followed by suspension (13.0%).
Does the 2005 C5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.2% in the 0-30k band to 30.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,817 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.