2009 · 15 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2009 Citroen C5 MOT pass rate and common faults

1,649 MOT tests in 2024. 56.0% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

96Below average
Passed first time56.0%
Failed or needed repairs44.0%
Typical mileage at test118,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,649 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt12.2%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn6.5%
  3. Position lamp: not working5.5%
  4. Stop lamp: not working4.2%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm4.1%
    107 marked dangerous
  6. On or after 01/07/2008: emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit3.1%
  7. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.0%
    69 marked dangerous
  8. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid2.8%
  9. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.8%
    61 marked dangerous
  10. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.5%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics29.2%
  2. Suspension20.5%
  3. Brakes14.3%
  4. Body & chassis14.0%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)9.5%
  6. Tyres9.5%
  7. Emissions & leaks8.7%
  8. Steering6.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm22.5%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine18.5%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened15.3%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick11.2%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.9%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2009 Citroen C5?

In 2024, 56.0% of 2009 Citroen C5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,649 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 Citroen C5?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; position lamp: not working. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2009 Citroen C5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 96, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).