Citroen C5 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Citroen C5 car check
Is the Citroen C5 reliable? We analysed 931,868 real MOT tests across 82,427 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Citroen C5? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Citroen C5 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, position lamp(s) not working and registration plate lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Citroen C5.
Citroen C5 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Citroen C5. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Citroen C5 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Citroen C5 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Citroen C5 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Citroen C5 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Citroen C5 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Citroen C5 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Citroen C5 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Citroen C5 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,361 | 88.6% | 20,298 | 29,613 | 40,710 |
| 2020 | 19,383 | 86.1% | 20,267 | 29,948 | 41,679 |
| 2019 | 33,506 | 84.9% | 21,655 | 32,080 | 45,071 |
| 2018 | 145 | 84.8% | 18,145 | 29,405 | 45,888 |
| 2016 | 997 | 79.9% | 31,300 | 48,363 | 75,253 |
| 2015 | 2,057 | 80.6% | 35,105 | 54,828 | 80,913 |
| 2014 | 2,944 | 79.2% | 37,571 | 59,914 | 90,689 |
| 2013 | 5,292 | 77.0% | 43,909 | 69,574 | 100,468 |
| 2012 | 6,718 | 77.8% | 50,250 | 77,651 | 108,787 |
| 2011 | 13,635 | 76.8% | 54,522 | 82,774 | 117,238 |
| 2010 | 36,174 | 74.0% | 56,974 | 86,377 | 118,815 |
| 2009 | 74,175 | 71.6% | 57,728 | 85,574 | 116,244 |
| 2008 | 63,942 | 71.5% | 54,135 | 81,947 | 112,599 |
| 2007 | 31,654 | 69.8% | 53,330 | 82,192 | 115,074 |
| 2006 | 49,496 | 70.5% | 50,934 | 78,678 | 109,903 |
| 2005 | 56,378 | 70.2% | 51,953 | 79,355 | 110,156 |
| 2004 | 90,789 | 70.9% | 55,000 | 83,958 | 117,496 |
| 2003 | 133,106 | 71.5% | 57,030 | 86,280 | 120,189 |
| 2002 | 194,622 | 70.5% | 61,887 | 89,012 | 120,961 |
| 2001 | 113,176 | 69.9% | 63,799 | 88,923 | 118,455 |
How Long Does a Citroen C5 Last?
Based on 82,427 Citroen C5 vehicles on UK roads.
Citroen C5 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Citroen C5 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Citroen C5
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
88.6% MOT pass rate from 2,361 tests
69.8% MOT pass rate from 31,654 tests
The best year to buy a used Citroen C5 is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.6% across 2,361 tests. The 2007 model year has the lowest pass rate at 69.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Citroen C5 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citroen C5 THIS CAR | 72.0% | 931,868 | 81,805 mi | 25 yrs |
| Citroen Xsara | 69.1% | 5,047,330 | 77,497 mi | 28 yrs |
| Citroen Berlingo | 70.1% | 4,453,235 | 83,738 mi | 29 yrs |
| Citroen C3 | 72.7% | 4,435,918 | 53,913 mi | 24 yrs |
| Peugeot 5008 | 74.4% | 324,566 | 60,248 mi | 16 yrs |
Compared to the Citroen Xsara (69.1% pass rate) and the Citroen Berlingo (70.1% pass rate), the Citroen C5 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Citroen C5 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Citroen C5Should you buy a used Citroen C5?
The Citroen C5 has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.0% across 931,868 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Citroen C5 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (42,736 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (29,340), and registration plate lamp not working (24,921). 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.
A typical Citroen C5 owner drives around 7,739 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 C5 models stay on UK roads for around 25 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.