2020 Citroen Berlingo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 41,944 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Citroen Berlingo, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes. Its pass rate of 84.1% was below the average for vans of a similar age (85.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 17.2% in the 150k+ group versus 11.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 4,709 |
| 2 | Visibility | 8.5% | 3,551 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.2% | 2,193 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.1% | 2,146 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 500 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 501 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 3,078 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,353 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 2,004 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 1,636 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,498 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,263 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.5% | 9,849 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.5% | 7,749 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 3,211 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.7% | 2,812 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.3% | 1,792 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 1,466 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 9,633 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 17,393 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 10,520 | 18.3% |
| 90-120k | 3,427 | 18.1% |
| 120-150k | 737 | 17.0% |
| 150k+ | 232 | 17.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 41,559 | 16.0% |
| Petrol | 315 | 10.2% |
| Electric | 70 | 14.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 38 | 13.2% |
| 2022 | 392 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 14,310 | 16.4% |
| 2024 | 13,889 | 16.1% |
| 2025 | 13,315 | 15.2% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Berlingo
Before buying a 2020 Citroen Berlingo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 11.2% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (8.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (5.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2020 Citroen Berlingos pass their MOT?
84.1% of the 41,944 2020 Citroen Berlingo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Citroen Berlingo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests, followed by visibility (8.5%).
Does the 2020 Berlingo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 17.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,944 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.