2003 Citroen C8 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Citroen C8 passed 67.2% of its 433 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 30.0% of the time, so this is 2.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 17.8% of tests against 14.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, rbt (sp) and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 31 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 34.3% versus 23.8%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 29.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 35.7% in 2021 to 28.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.8% | 77 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 64 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.5% | 54 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.2% | 53 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.2% | 31 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.5% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 31 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 27 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 4 | Washers | 23 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 23 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 22 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 29.6% | 128 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.1% | 126 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.6% | 124 |
| 4 | Other defects | 21.7% | 94 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 21.5% | 93 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 20.3% | 88 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 42 | 23.8% |
| 60-90k | 100 | 28.0% |
| 90-120k | 89 | 38.2% |
| 120-150k | 123 | 34.2% |
| 150k+ | 73 | 34.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 343 | 32.4% |
| Petrol | 90 | 34.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 157 | 35.7% |
| 2022 | 105 | 31.4% |
| 2023 | 79 | 31.6% |
| 2024 | 54 | 31.5% |
| 2025 | 38 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a 2003 C8
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.5% 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 2003 Citroen C8s pass their MOT?
67.2% of the 433 2003 Citroen C8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Citroen C8?
Suspension, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.8%).
Does the 2003 C8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.8% in the 30-60k band to 34.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 433 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.