2021 Citroen C5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,643 MOT tests, the 2021 Citroen C5 recorded a 91.3% pass rate. Against large family cars of a similar age (10.4% fail rate), the 2021 C5 comes out 1.7pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.2%) and lighting & signalling (2.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 226 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.0% in the 0-30k band and 29.4% in the 90-120k band, a 22.4-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 1.9pp more often than diesel ones (10.1% vs 8.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.2% of tests failed in 2023 against 8.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.2% | 453 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 209 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.2% | 192 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.4% | 122 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 35 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 27 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 226 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 177 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 172 |
| 4 | Washers | 91 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 56 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 44 |
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 | 23.7% | 2,048 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.8% | 1,361 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.8% | 590 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 146 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 145 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 110 |
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 | 4,512 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,740 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 344 | 10.5% |
| 90-120k | 34 | 29.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,800 | 8.6% |
| Diesel | 3,305 | 8.2% |
| Hybrid | 1,538 | 10.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 231 | 5.2% |
| 2024 | 4,310 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 4,098 | 8.8% |
What to check before buying a 2021 C5
On a 2021 C5, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.2% 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 2021 Citroen C5s pass their MOT?
91.3% of the 8,643 2021 Citroen C5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Citroen C5?
Tyres, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.4%).
Does the 2021 C5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 29.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,643 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.