2011 Citroen C5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,090 MOT tests, the 2011 Citroen C5 recorded a 76.1% pass rate. Against large family cars of a similar age (22.7% fail rate), the 2011 C5 comes out 1.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.6%) and body, structure & corrosion (8.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, stop lamp and pins and bushes — joints alone was recorded 422 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.5% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 473 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 364 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.5% | 349 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 238 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.4% | 222 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.5% | 185 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 422 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 198 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 195 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 148 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 145 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 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 | Tyres | 28.0% | 1,147 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.5% | 1,125 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.4% | 958 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 503 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.7% | 397 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.3% | 382 |
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 | 43 | 16.3% |
| 30-60k | 370 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,069 | 22.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,149 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 781 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 678 | 29.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 980 | 22.2% |
| 2022 | 912 | 23.4% |
| 2023 | 830 | 23.5% |
| 2024 | 731 | 25.4% |
| 2025 | 637 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 C5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.9% 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+.
- Suspension (8.5% 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 2011 Citroen C5s pass their MOT?
76.1% of the 4,090 2011 Citroen C5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Citroen C5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (8.9%).
Does the 2011 C5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.3% in the 0-30k band to 29.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,090 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.