2016 Citroen C5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Citroen C5 passed 85.9% of its 596 recorded MOT tests. Against large family cars of a similar age (15.3% fail rate), the 2016 C5 comes out 1.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.7% of all tests — 3.7 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are joints, stop lamp and brake pads — joints alone was recorded 33 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 19.4% versus 11.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 52 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.0% | 30 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.7% | 28 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.7% | 22 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.7% | 22 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 33 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 24 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 18 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 5 | Wipers | 15 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 14 |
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 | 17.4% | 104 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.8% | 100 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.6% | 81 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.7% | 40 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 29 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 16 |
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 | 86 | 11.6% |
| 30-60k | 258 | 13.2% |
| 60-90k | 148 | 13.5% |
| 90-120k | 63 | 19.1% |
| 120-150k | 31 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 126 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 114 | 8.8% |
| 2023 | 119 | 12.6% |
| 2024 | 121 | 17.4% |
| 2025 | 116 | 17.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 C5
On a 2016 C5, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (5.0% 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+.
- Suspension (4.7% 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 2016 Citroen C5s pass their MOT?
85.9% of the 596 2016 Citroen C5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Citroen C5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.7% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (5.0%).
Does the 2016 C5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.6% in the 0-30k band to 19.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 596 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.