2005 Citroen C15 — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 400 MOT tests analysed for the 2005 Citroen C15, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 67.3% was below the average for cars of a similar age (74.2%).

Pass rate

400

MOT tests analysed

32.8%

Fail rate

worse than

vs cars of similar age

17.8

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 — 2005 Citroen C15
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Lighting & signalling	29.3%	117
2	Brakes	14.2%	57
3	Suspension	14.0%	56
4	Body, structure & corrosion	11.8%	47
5	Visibility	7.2%	29
6	Tyres	4.8%	19

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 — 2005 Citroen C15
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Headlamp aim	78
2	Component mounting prescribed areas	58
3	Service brake performance	45
4	Headlamp	43
5	Side repeaters	32
6	Position lamp	31

Top advisory categories

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

Most common MOT advisories — 2005 Citroen C15
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Brakes	24.0%	96
2	Tyres	23.5%	94
3	Suspension	22.3%	89
4	Body, structure & corrosion	20.3%	81
5	Emissions & environmental	18.3%	73
6	Lighting & signalling	12.5%	50

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 — 2005 C15
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
30-60k	81	30.9%
60-90k	147	36.0%
90-120k	93	30.1%
120-150k	53	26.4%

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 — 2005 C15
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2021	101	32.7%
2022	86	29.1%
2023	80	32.5%
2024	70	34.3%
2025	63	36.5%

What to check before buying a 2005 C15

Before buying a 2005 Citroen C15, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 29.3% of tests for this year.

Lighting & signalling (29.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Brakes (14.2% 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.
Suspension (14.0% 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 2005 Citroen C15s pass their MOT?

67.3% of the 400 2005 Citroen C15 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.8% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Citroen C15?

Lighting & signalling, recorded in 29.3% of tests, followed by brakes (14.2%).

Does the 2005 C15 get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.9% in the 30-60k band to 26.4% in the 120-150k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 400 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.