Large family car · 2001–2021 cars

Citroën C5 reliability

The Citroën C5 fails 28.5% of first MOT tests, 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 63,992 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

About averageReliability score 45/100#27 of 29 large family cars

Checking a Citroën C5 before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 28.5%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 6% more; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 63,992; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 8,800; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Citroën C5 ages

Each point is the share of Citroën C5s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Citroën C5All cars

Citroën C5 first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Citroën C5	All cars
3	13.6%	12.3%
4	15.1%	14.1%
5	20.6%	16.4%
6	19.6%	19.1%
7	22.5%	22.1%
8	29.9%	25.5%
9	33%	28.8%
10	31.8%	31.8%
11	36.3%	34.6%
12	42.6%	37.3%
13	43.7%	39.5%
14	43.6%	41.1%
15	44.2%	42.3%
16	45.7%	42.9%
17	46.4%	43.4%
18	43.6%	43.5%
19	45.1%	43.4%
20	42.9%	42.8%
21	43.7%	41.4%
22	47.8%	40.6%

By year

The best and worst Citroën C5 years

2021 cars come out best and 2019 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Citroën C5 MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021 C5	1,949	10.4%	12% fewer fails	26,600
2020 C5	11,131	12.7%	5% more fails	27,638
2019 C5	18,384	16.4%	25% more fails	30,941
2016	353	23.5%	10% more fails	56,897
2015	613	23.2%	3% fewer fails	64,519
2014	775	28.1%	3% more fails	72,437
2013 C5	1,213	34%	8% more fails	88,860
2012 C5	1,304	32.4%	8% fewer fails	98,333
2011 C5	2,104	35.4%	6% fewer fails	104,327
2010 C5	4,537	42.6%	6% more fails	112,000
2009 C5	7,194	44.3%	5% more fails	116,122
2008 C5	4,916	44.5%	4% more fails	116,565
2007 C5	1,715	45.9%	6% more fails	116,321
2006 C5	1,911	42.9%	2% fewer fails	112,694
2005 C5	1,317	46.8%	6% more fails	111,473
2004 C5	1,615	45.9%	4% more fails	109,453
2003 C5	1,402	43.5%	1% fewer fails	116,618
2002 C5	1,049	43.3%	0% more fails	118,881
2001	431	47.3%	13% more fails	109,935

Common problems

What fails most on a Citroën C5

Its weak spot is body, chassis and structure: 65% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics13.5%22% above avg
Suspension7.7%10% below avg
Brakes6.9%4% above avg
Tyres6.2%3% above avg
Body, chassis and structure5.9%65% above avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors4.1%15% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.1%3% below avg
Steering2.5%33% above avg
Wheels0.4%14% above avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
CV joint boot split or insecure 4.34% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
2
Position lamp not working 3.38% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Stop lamp not working 2.61% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
4
Registration plate lamp not working 2.26% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
5
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.1% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
6
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 1.99% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
7
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.88% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
8
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.56% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Citroën C5's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit14.4%
Brake disc pitted or scored9.67%
Brake pads wearing thin8%
Engine oil leak, not excessive6.08%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking5.93%
Linkage ball joint slight play3.56%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Citroën C5

1
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
4
Registration plate lamp not working
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Citroën C5 covers about 8,800 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Diesel66.6%
Petrol32.3%
Hybrid1.1%
LPG0%

Most common colours

Grey, Blue, White, Silver, Black

Average engine size: 1.7 litres.

Compare

How the Citroën C5 compares with its rivals

Citroën C5 against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Volkswagen CC	25.1%	17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Honda Accord	38.7%	8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Hyundai i40	26.6%	4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot 508	28.2%	4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Tesla Model 3	14.7%	about average for its age
Peugeot 407	46.1%	6% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Citroën C5	28.5%	6% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every large family car ranked in the large family car reliability index, or all Citroën models.

Questions

Citroën C5 questions, answered

Is the Citroën C5 reliable?

On MOT results, the Citroën C5 is about average: it fails 28.5% of first MOT tests, 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 27 of 29 large family car models in our index.

What fails most on a Citroën C5 MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Citroën C5 are cv joint boot split or insecure (4.34% of tests), position lamp not working (3.38% of tests), stop lamp not working (2.61% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 13.5% of its tests.

Which Citroën C5 year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2021 cars do best (12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2019 cars do worst (25% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Citroën C5 do a year?

A typical Citroën C5 covers about 8,800 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Citroën C5 before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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