Citroen C5 - 2003
364.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2003 is 380.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Citroen C5, model year 2003.
Sample size: 291 cars, 622 tests and 2,264 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 291 cars
The 2003 Citroën C5 has an overall defect rate of 364 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly better than the average for cars of the same year, at 378 per 100 vehicles. Notably, the C5 performs significantly better in the steering and body/structure categories, with defect rates 33% and 37% lower than average, respectively. However, it has a higher incidence of issues in the lights and electrics category, exceeding the average by 22%. Mileage data indicates that defects tend to increase with age, particularly after 124,000 miles, where the C5 shows a notable rise in defect rates.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 291 cars
More model years for Citroen C5
Other models from Citroen
Categories
Brakes
▼ 14.1% worse
193.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 169.3 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▲ 33.7% better
16.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
Visibility
▼ 9.1% worse
32.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.8 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▼ 21.7% worse
125.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 102.8 / 100 tests
- Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- Beam image obviously incorrect
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 14.9% better
257.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 302.1 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▲ 38.8% better
39.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.2 / 100 tests
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly
Equipment
▲ 14.7% better
11.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.6 / 100 tests
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A seat belt:
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
Other
▲ 1.7% better
51.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 52.7 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Smoke opacity levels exceed default limit
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 196
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 155
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 129
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 128
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 122
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 115
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 109
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 61
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 60
Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
MINOR
Occurrences: 48
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 42
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 35
An obvious leak from any part of the system
FAIL
Occurrences: 31
Parking brake inoperative on one side, or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight line
FAIL
Occurrences: 25
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 23
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 23
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 19
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 18
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 17
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 15