2019 Citroen C5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Citroen C5 passed 89.2% of its 29,720 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (11.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.2%) and tyres (5.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are registration plate lamp(s), brake pads and headlamp aim — registration plate lamp(s) alone was recorded 1,696 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.8% versus 7.6%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 10.7% of the time against 10.9% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 3.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 2,142 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.1% | 1,525 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.0% | 905 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.4% | 418 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 272 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 130 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,696 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 879 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 764 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 561 |
| 5 | Washers | 294 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 245 |
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 | 24.7% | 7,339 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.7% | 5,865 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 2,333 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.5% | 2,244 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 1,045 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.7% | 496 |
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 | 14,241 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 13,181 | 13.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,998 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 244 | 17.2% |
| 120-150k | 48 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 19,805 | 10.7% |
| Diesel | 9,915 | 10.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 124 | 3.2% |
| 2022 | 7,271 | 8.9% |
| 2023 | 7,354 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 7,406 | 11.6% |
| 2025 | 7,565 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2019 C5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (3.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2019 Citroen C5s pass their MOT?
89.2% of the 29,720 2019 Citroen C5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Citroen C5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by tyres (5.1%).
Does the 2019 C5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 20.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 29,720 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.