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CitroenUsed-car reliability

How reliable is a used Citroen?

At 7 years old, the average Citroen fails its MOT more often than the average UK car.

Where to start

The lowest and highest fail rates in the Citroen range

The Citroen models whose MOT tests at 7 years old most and least often ended in a fail.

Lowest fail rates

  1. 1Citroen C1Citroen C1Hatchback · 8,956 MOT tests at 7 years old14.9%fail rate
  2. 2Citroen C3 AircrossCitroen C3 AircrossSUV · 7,676 MOT tests at 7 years old18.6%fail rate
  3. 3Citroen C3Citroen C3Hatchback · 19,889 MOT tests at 7 years old21.0%fail rate

Highest fail rates

  1. 1Citroen BerlingoCitroen BerlingoMPV · 19,964 MOT tests at 7 years old28.6%fail rate
  2. 2Citroen C4Citroen C4Hatchback · 11,010 MOT tests at 7 years old23.7%fail rate
  3. 3Citroen C4 CactusCitroen C4 CactusHatchback · 7,268 MOT tests at 7 years old23.7%fail rate

What actually goes wrong

What breaks on Citroen cars

The most common MOT faults across the Citroen range, in plain English. Models with more MOT tests count for more. The percentage is the share of MOT tests on Citroen cars that recorded that defect.

29.0%

Suspension arms, struts and anti-roll bar

A suspension arm, wishbone, strut, sub-frame, or anti-roll bar is worn, cracked, bent, or has excessive play. These structural parts hold the wheels in position and control body lean in corners.

MOT wording: Suspension part corroded, but not seriously weakened

20.8%

Tyre condition

A tyre is worn, cut, damaged or otherwise not fit for the road. Tyres are the only thing connecting the car to the road, so this is always worth taking seriously.

MOT wording: Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

17.7%

Fluid leak

The vehicle is leaking a fluid — oil, coolant, fuel or hydraulic. A slight seep is common on older cars; a continuous drip is both a road hazard and a sign of something failing.

MOT wording: Oil leak, but not excessive

14.4%

Rigid brake pipe

A rigid metal brake pipe is corroded, damaged, kinked, or leaking. These permanently fixed pipes carry pressurised brake fluid — any weakness is a serious safety concern.

MOT wording: Brake pipe corroded or covered in grease

Across all Citroen models; models with more MOT tests count for more.

The whole range

Every Citroen that ranks, in plain English

For each model, one number: the share of its MOT tests at 7 years old that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. Lower is better. The UK average (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%) is shown for reference. Only models with enough MOT data at 7 years old are ranked. The rest sit just below, unranked.

7 models

Fail rates are the share of MOT tests on 7-year-old cars ending in a fail, retests included (DVSA MOT results, 2025). UK average across all makes at the same age: 16.6%. How we count fail rates

Not directly comparable with the figures at 7 years old

Shown unranked. These models don’t have enough MOT data at 7 years old yet. They’re either too new (few cars old enough) or too old (few still on the road). Each is shown at the age with the most tests, so the percentages aren’t directly comparable to the list above.

Citroen C5 XToo new to rank

Citroen C5 X

Hatchback · built around 2022 (3 years old)

7.5%fail rate at 3 years old · 547 MOT tests
Citroen C5 AircrossToo new to rank

Citroen C5 Aircross

SUV · built around 2022 (3 years old)

8.8%fail rate at 3 years old · 3,646 MOT tests
Citroen e-C4Too new to rank

Citroen e-C4

Hatchback · Electric · built around 2022 (3 years old)

15.5%fail rate at 3 years old · 3,353 MOT tests
Citroen C5Too new to rank

Citroen C5

Hatchback · built around 2020 (5 years old)

16.6%fail rate at 5 years old · 7,168 MOT tests
Citroen 2CVToo old to rank

Citroen 2CV

Hatchback · built before 2000 (over 25 years old)

22.0%fail rate at 25+ years old · 3,009 MOT tests
Citroen DS5Too old to rank

Citroen DS5

Hatchback · built around 2013 (12 years old)

29.3%fail rate at 12 years old · 1,964 MOT tests
Citroen DS4Too old to rank

Citroen DS4

Hatchback · built around 2013 (12 years old)

32.4%fail rate at 12 years old · 4,371 MOT tests
Citroen SaxoToo old to rank

Citroen Saxo

Hatchback · built around 2002 (23 years old)

32.9%fail rate at 23 years old · 1,035 MOT tests
Citroen DS3Too old to rank

Citroen DS3

Hatchback · built around 2014 (11 years old)

32.9%fail rate at 11 years old · 25,566 MOT tests
Citroen C2Too old to rank

Citroen C2

Hatchback · built around 2008 (17 years old)

33.4%fail rate at 17 years old · 2,033 MOT tests
Citroen C-CrosserToo old to rank

Citroen C-Crosser

SUV · built around 2009 (16 years old)

33.8%fail rate at 16 years old · 711 MOT tests
Citroen XsaraToo old to rank

Citroen Xsara

Hatchback · built around 2007 (18 years old)

34.6%fail rate at 18 years old · 5,693 MOT tests
Citroen C8Too old to rank

Citroen C8

MPV · built around 2008 (17 years old)

38.7%fail rate at 17 years old · 212 MOT tests

Looking at one in particular?

Averages tell you the odds across the range. Enter a number plate to see that car’s own MOT history, its risk rating, and what’s likely to need attention.