2012 Citroen C5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,432 MOT tests, the 2012 Citroen C5 recorded a 78.5% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 21.5%, so the 2012 C5 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.0% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are joints, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — joints alone was recorded 204 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.7% versus 7.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 29.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 292 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.8% | 213 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 194 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.5% | 133 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.9% | 119 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 77 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 204 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 165 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 113 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 93 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 91 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 70 |
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 | 29.6% | 720 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.7% | 697 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.8% | 529 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 264 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 198 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.1% | 196 |
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 | 39 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 269 | 13.4% |
| 60-90k | 686 | 18.8% |
| 90-120k | 692 | 25.0% |
| 120-150k | 471 | 24.4% |
| 150k+ | 275 | 24.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 544 | 19.7% |
| 2022 | 527 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 476 | 20.0% |
| 2024 | 461 | 23.0% |
| 2025 | 424 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 C5
On a 2012 C5, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.8% 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 (8.0% 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 2012 Citroen C5s pass their MOT?
78.5% of the 2,432 2012 Citroen C5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Citroen C5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.0% of tests, followed by suspension (8.8%).
Does the 2012 C5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 24.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,432 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.