2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 Citroen C5 MOT pass rate and common faults

368 MOT tests in 2024. 66.3% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

103Above average
Passed first time66.3%
Failed or needed repairs33.7%
Typical mileage at test103,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 368 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt9.2%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.8%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.8%
    20 marked dangerous
  4. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn3.3%
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.7%
    10 marked dangerous
  6. Position lamp: not working2.4%
  7. Stop lamp: not working2.4%
  8. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid2.2%
  9. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.9%
  10. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.6%
    7 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics18.2%
  2. Suspension13.3%
  3. Body & chassis10.6%
  4. Tyres9.2%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.1%
  6. Brakes6.8%
  7. Steering4.6%
  8. Emissions & leaks2.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19.6%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened14.9%
  3. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn12.8%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.2%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure9.2%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. 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 2012 Citroen C5?

In 2024, 66.3% of 2012 Citroen C5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 368 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 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; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2012 Citroen C5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 103, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).