2021 Citroen C5 MOT pass rate: 90.1% (1,641 tests)
Is the 2021 C5 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2021-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 90.7% +0.1 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 89.6% -0.6 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2021 C5
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 138 | 52.5% |
| 2 | Brakes | 65 | 24.7% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 27 | 10.3% |
| 4 | Visibility | 9 | 3.4% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 8 | 3.0% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 6 | 2.3% |
All C5 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 3,543 | 62.6% | -2.5 pts | 117,934 |
| 2009 | 5,256 | 62.9% | -3.6 pts | 117,742 |
| 2010 | 3,507 | 64.6% | -2.8 pts | 114,051 |
| 2011 | 1,716 | 68.7% | -0.5 pts | 106,258 |
| 2019 | 19,472 | 87.2% | -1.2 pts | 34,478 |
| 2020 | 14,718 | 88.5% | -1.4 pts | 28,120 |
| 2021 (this page) | 1,641 | 90.1% | -0.3 pts | 28,124 |
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FAQs
Is a 2021 Citroen C5 reliable?
2021-registered examples passed 90.1% of their MOT tests (1,641 tests, 2023–2025), -0.3 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 5 years old with a median 28,124 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2021 C5?
The median tested example shows 28,124 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.