Citroen C8 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Citroen C8 appears in 9,629 MOT tests spanning model years 2002–2020, and 66.1% of them passed. MPVs of a similar age fail 28.9% of the time, so this is 5.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (19.0%) and suspension (17.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), position lamp and stop lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 1,096 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 35.7% versus 24.0%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 32.7% of the time against 34.1% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 31.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every C8 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 433 | 67.2% | 32.8% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 806 | 67.9% | 32.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 1,413 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 1,746 | 66.3% | 33.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 2,206 | 64.6% | 35.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 1,597 | 65.5% | 34.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 1,113 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 296 | 68.6% | 31.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.0% | 1,828 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.2% | 1,652 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.8% | 1,622 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.7% | 1,222 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.7% | 647 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.6% | 536 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 507 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.9% | 282 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 1,096 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 822 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 724 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 618 |
| 5 | Joints | 617 |
| 6 | Parking brake performance | 566 |
| 7 | Ball joint | 540 |
| 8 | Exhaust system | 478 |
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 | 31.0% | 2,981 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.6% | 2,851 |
| 3 | Suspension | 27.2% | 2,614 |
| 4 | Other defects | 19.2% | 1,845 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.6% | 1,793 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.5% | 1,782 |
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 | 50 | 24.0% |
| 30-60k | 546 | 28.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,878 | 30.6% |
| 90-120k | 3,047 | 34.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,591 | 35.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,500 | 35.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,022 | 34.1% |
| Petrol | 1,607 | 32.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,120 | 34.3% |
| 2022 | 2,414 | 33.6% |
| 2023 | 1,799 | 34.1% |
| 2024 | 1,298 | 33.5% |
| 2025 | 998 | 33.1% |
What to check before buying a Citroen C8
- Lighting & signalling (19.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.2% 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.
- Brakes (16.8% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Citroen C8?
66.1% of the 9,629 Citroen C8 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 33.9% fail rate, across model years 2002–2020.
What does the Citroen C8 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.0% of tests, then suspension (17.2%).
How much does mileage affect C8 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 24.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 35.7% for 150k+, a 11.7-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel C8 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 32.7% of the time against 34.1% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,629 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.