2020 Citroen C5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Citroen C5 passed 89.6% of its 17,616 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (10.9% 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 (5.3%) and tyres (5.2%) 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 554 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.0% in the 0-30k band and 14.1% in the 90-120k band, a 6.1-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.9% of the time against 10.9% for hybrid.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.8% of tests failed in 2022 against 12.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 930 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.2% | 910 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.8% | 500 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.5% | 256 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 161 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 86 |
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) | 554 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 488 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 480 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 443 |
| 5 | Washers | 186 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 140 |
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 | 24.6% | 4,333 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.6% | 3,282 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.0% | 1,233 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 1,021 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.0% | 535 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.6% | 282 |
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 | 9,460 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 7,276 | 13.1% |
| 60-90k | 774 | 14.5% |
| 90-120k | 92 | 14.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,713 | 10.9% |
| Petrol | 8,017 | 9.9% |
| Hybrid | 886 | 10.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 257 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 5,823 | 9.3% |
| 2024 | 5,698 | 9.9% |
| 2025 | 5,833 | 12.2% |
What to check before buying a 2020 C5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.2% 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 (2.8% 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 2020 Citroen C5s pass their MOT?
89.6% of the 17,616 2020 Citroen C5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Citroen C5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by tyres (5.2%).
Does the 2020 C5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 14.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,616 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.