2023 Citroen C5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2023 Citroen C5 passed 93.5% of its 505 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 7.4%, so the 2023 C5 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.2%) and brakes (1.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 6 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.2% | 16 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.6% | 8 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 8 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.8% | 4 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.6% | 3 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.6% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 6 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 5 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 4 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 3 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 2 |
| 6 | Joints | 2 |
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 | 16.0% | 81 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.5% | 33 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.0% | 10 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.0% | 10 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 7 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.8% | 4 |
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 | 309 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 187 | 9.1% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 342 | 7.0% |
| Diesel | 85 | 9.4% |
| Hybrid | 78 | 1.3% |
What to check before buying a 2023 C5
On a 2023 C5, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.2% 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 (1.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2023 Citroen C5s pass their MOT?
93.5% of the 505 2023 Citroen C5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Citroen C5?
Tyres, recorded in 3.2% of tests, followed by brakes (1.6%).
Does the 2023 C5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 9.1% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 505 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.