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Citroen Berlingo Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Citroen Berlingo reliable? We analysed 4,453,235 real MOT tests across 354,716 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 4,453,235 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
70.1%
Typical Mileage
83,738mi
Annual Mileage
7,167mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Citroen Berlingo is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, stop lamp not working and registration plate lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Citroen Berlingo.

Citroen Berlingo Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Citroen Berlingo. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Citroen Berlingo MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Citroen Berlingo to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

79.5%
2023
85.5%
2022
77.9%
2021
78.2%
2020
77.7%
2019
73.6%
2018
73.8%
2017
73.8%
2016
72.9%
2015
72.3%
2014
71.9%
2013
71.4%
2012
70.5%
2011
70.1%
2010
70.5%
2009
69.9%
2008
69.9%
2007
70.3%
2006
69.6%
2005
69.6%
2004

Citroen Berlingo Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Citroen Berlingo fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 117,833
Stop lamp not working 110,487
Registration plate lamp not working 95,795
position lamp(s) not working 76,407
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 75,499
Direction indicator incorrect colour 54,372
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 54,032
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 39,033
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 36,711

Citroen Berlingo Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Citroen Berlingo models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 64,079

Citroen Berlingo Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Citroen Berlingo owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,133 mi/yr
Typical
7,167 mi/yr
Average
8,804 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,400 mi/yr

Citroen Berlingo MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Citroen Berlingo year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2023 78 79.5% 13,877 19,088 31,380
2022 739 85.5% 10,928 21,893 37,038
2021 15,870 77.9% 30,770 47,142 67,438
2020 49,773 78.2% 32,771 50,843 72,164
2019 80,226 77.7% 31,488 51,361 76,774
2018 95,642 73.6% 38,092 60,006 87,321
2017 114,928 73.8% 42,638 65,920 94,032
2016 148,791 73.8% 41,647 66,330 97,135
2015 186,967 72.9% 44,137 69,495 101,964
2014 204,748 72.3% 46,593 73,988 107,776
2013 202,589 71.9% 49,484 78,214 113,651
2012 181,187 71.4% 48,961 78,453 115,193
2011 172,593 70.5% 52,911 85,042 122,958
2010 179,220 70.1% 54,332 87,163 124,914
2009 216,740 70.5% 50,952 81,503 117,545
2008 203,511 69.9% 53,918 83,602 117,079
2007 265,892 69.9% 55,185 84,362 116,884
2006 293,709 70.3% 55,183 84,784 117,914
2005 281,187 69.6% 55,130 84,923 118,377
2004 332,328 69.6% 56,468 86,834 120,039

How Long Does a Citroen Berlingo Last?

Based on 354,716 Citroen Berlingo vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.1 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Citroen Berlingo Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Citroen Berlingo MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
83,738 mi
75th Percentile
118,546 mi
95th Percentile
175,838 mi
Max Recorded
6,706,726 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Citroen Berlingo

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2022

85.5% MOT pass rate from 739 tests

Year to avoid
1996

63.3% MOT pass rate from 6,042 tests

The best year to buy a used Citroen Berlingo is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.5% across 739 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Citroen Berlingo Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Citroen Berlingo THIS CAR 70.1% 4,453,235 83,738 mi 29 yrs
Citroen Xsara 69.1% 5,047,330 77,497 mi 28 yrs
Citroen C3 72.7% 4,435,918 53,913 mi 24 yrs
Citroen C4 72% 3,110,282 63,336 mi 21 yrs
Suzuki Swift 76.1% 2,247,517 51,601 mi 31 yrs

Compared to the Citroen Xsara (69.1% pass rate) and the Citroen C3 (72.7% pass rate), the Citroen Berlingo sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Citroen Berlingo?

The Citroen Berlingo has an overall MOT pass rate of 70.1% across 4,453,235 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Citroen Berlingo are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (117,833 recorded failures), stop lamp not working (110,487), and registration plate lamp not working (95,795). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Citroen Berlingo with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Citroen Berlingo owner drives around 7,167 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Citroen Berlingo models stay on UK roads for around 29 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Citroen Berlingo — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Citroen Berlingo reliable?
Based on 4,453,235 MOT tests, the Citroen Berlingo has a 70.1% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Citroen Berlingo?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, stop lamp not working, and registration plate lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Citroen Berlingo do per year?
The typical Citroen Berlingo does around 7,167 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Citroen Berlingo last?
Most Citroen Berlingo models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 354,716 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Citroen Berlingo?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Citroen Berlingo?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Citroen Berlingo is 2022 with a 85.5% pass rate across 739 tests.