2015 Citroen C5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Citroen C5 passed 84.3% of its 1,120 recorded MOT tests. Against large family cars of a similar age (17.0% fail rate), the 2015 C5 comes out 1.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.1% of tests against 6.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, stop lamp and headlamp aim — joints alone was recorded 73 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.4% once past 120-150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 102 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 68 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.1% | 46 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.5% | 39 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.6% | 29 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.7% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 73 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 43 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 25 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 24 |
| 6 | Wipers | 20 |
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 | 23.6% | 264 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.9% | 167 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.2% | 159 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 79 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.0% | 67 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 30 |
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 | 129 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 371 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 348 | 16.1% |
| 90-120k | 182 | 20.9% |
| 120-150k | 61 | 16.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 218 | 11.5% |
| 2022 | 231 | 13.9% |
| 2023 | 219 | 12.8% |
| 2024 | 227 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 225 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 C5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.1% 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 (4.1% 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 2015 Citroen C5s pass their MOT?
84.3% of the 1,120 2015 Citroen C5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Citroen C5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (6.1%).
Does the 2015 C5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 16.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,120 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.