2007 Citroen C5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,621 MOT tests, the 2007 Citroen C5 recorded a 70.8% pass rate. Against large family cars of a similar age (26.7% fail rate), the 2007 C5 comes out 2.4pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.2% of all tests — 5.8 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, joints and rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 578 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.1% in the 30-60k band and 30.1% in the 150k+ band, a 7.0-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 30.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.6% in 2021 to 26.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.2% | 731 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.4% | 520 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.4% | 484 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 217 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.1% | 186 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.4% | 160 |
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 | 578 |
| 2 | Joints | 216 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 204 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 194 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 190 |
| 6 | Parking brake performance | 183 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 30.7% | 1,113 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.0% | 1,085 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.7% | 1,041 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.5% | 596 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 478 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.7% | 458 |
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 | 268 | 23.1% |
| 60-90k | 721 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 943 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,026 | 32.9% |
| 150k+ | 637 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,448 | 29.5% |
| Petrol | 173 | 21.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,079 | 29.6% |
| 2022 | 882 | 29.7% |
| 2023 | 694 | 28.2% |
| 2024 | 561 | 30.3% |
| 2025 | 405 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 2007 C5
On a 2007 C5, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.4% 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 (13.4% 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 2007 Citroen C5s pass their MOT?
70.8% of the 3,621 2007 Citroen C5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Citroen C5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.2% of tests, followed by suspension (14.4%).
Does the 2007 C5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.1% in the 30-60k band to 30.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,621 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.