1997 Citroen C15 — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 506 MOT tests analysed for the 1997 Citroen C15, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 66.6% was below the average for cars of a similar age (76.5%).

Pass rate

506

MOT tests analysed

33.4%

Fail rate

worse than

vs cars of similar age

25.8

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 1997 Citroen C15
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Lighting & signalling	25.1%	127
2	Brakes	16.0%	81
3	Suspension	15.0%	76
4	Body, structure & corrosion	12.1%	61
5	Visibility	7.5%	38
6	Steering	5.3%	27

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 1997 Citroen C15
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Component mounting prescribed areas	113
2	Headlamp	63
3	Headlamp aim	63
4	Service brake performance	55
5	Prescribed areas	45
6	Integral vehicle structure condition	40

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 1997 Citroen C15
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Suspension	32.2%	163
2	Brakes	29.6%	150
3	Body, structure & corrosion	24.1%	122
4	Tyres	19.6%	99
5	Emissions & environmental	14.2%	72
6	Other defects	14.0%	71

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 1997 C15
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
60-90k	202	33.2%
90-120k	212	35.9%
120-150k	59	35.6%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 1997 C15
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2021	118	33.1%
2022	115	35.6%
2023	101	29.7%
2024	92	35.9%
2025	80	32.5%

What to check before buying a 1997 C15

Before buying a 1997 Citroen C15, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 25.1% of tests for this year.

Lighting & signalling (25.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Brakes (16.0% 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.
Suspension (15.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.

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 1997 Citroen C15s pass their MOT?

66.6% of the 506 1997 Citroen C15 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.4% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Citroen C15?

Lighting & signalling, recorded in 25.1% of tests, followed by brakes (16.0%).

Does the 1997 C15 get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 33.2% in the 60-90k band to 35.6% in the 120-150k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 506 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.