2009 Citroen C5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 14,633 MOT tests, the 2009 Citroen C5 recorded a 71.1% pass rate. Against large family cars of a similar age (24.8% fail rate), the 2009 C5 comes out 4.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.2% of all tests — 3.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are joints, pins and bushes and position lamp — joints alone was recorded 1,758 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.9% versus 10.0%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.8pp more often than petrol ones (29.1% vs 25.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 2,367 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.6% | 1,848 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 1,554 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.1% | 1,040 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.6% | 966 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 879 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 1,758 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 1,196 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,148 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 753 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 736 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 711 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 29.9% | 4,379 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.0% | 4,244 |
| 3 | Suspension | 27.6% | 4,044 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.8% | 2,751 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 2,047 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 1,511 |
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 | 50 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 674 | 20.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,598 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 4,657 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 4,006 | 30.7% |
| 150k+ | 2,645 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 13,952 | 29.1% |
| Petrol | 681 | 25.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,168 | 28.7% |
| 2022 | 3,578 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 2,925 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 2,223 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 1,739 | 30.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 C5
On a 2009 C5, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.6% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.6% 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 2009 Citroen C5s pass their MOT?
71.1% of the 14,633 2009 Citroen C5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Citroen C5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.2% of tests, followed by suspension (12.6%).
Does the 2009 C5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 30.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,633 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.