2021 Citroen C5 Aircross Shine Puretech S/S — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 1,310 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Citroen C5 Aircross Shine Puretech S/S, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 92.1% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).

Pass rate

1,310

MOT tests analysed

7.9%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars of similar age

3.5

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 — 2021 Citroen C5 Aircross Shine Puretech S/S
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	4.3%	56
2	Brakes	2.8%	36
3	Lighting & signalling	1.7%	22
4	Visibility	1.3%	17
5	Emissions & environmental	0.3%	4
6	Body, structure & corrosion	0.3%	4

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 — 2021 Citroen C5 Aircross Shine Puretech S/S
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	44
2	Brake pads	26
3	Headlamp aim	22
4	Washers	11
5	Brake discs	11
6	Service brake performance	8

Top advisory categories

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

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Citroen C5 Aircross Shine Puretech S/S
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	20.1%	263
2	Brakes	15.9%	208
3	Other defects	7.1%	93
4	Visibility	2.0%	26
5	Body, structure & corrosion	1.6%	21
6	Emissions & environmental	0.8%	11

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 — 2021 C5 Aircross Shine Puretech S/S
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	707	6.2%
30-60k	564	9.8%
60-90k	39	10.3%

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 — 2021 C5 Aircross Shine Puretech S/S
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2024	664	8.3%
2025	621	7.7%

What to check before buying a 2021 C5 Aircross Shine Puretech S/S

Before buying a 2021 Citroen C5 Aircross Shine Puretech S/S, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.3% of tests for this year.

Tyres (4.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Brakes (2.8% 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.
Lighting & signalling (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.

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 2021 Citroen C5 Aircross Shine Puretech S/Ss pass their MOT?

92.1% of the 1,310 2021 Citroen C5 Aircross Shine Puretech S/S MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.9% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Citroen C5 Aircross Shine Puretech S/S?

Tyres, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by brakes (2.8%).

Does the 2021 C5 Aircross Shine Puretech S/S get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 10.3% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 1,310 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.