Citroen C5 (2002)
2002 Citroen C5
CarHunch analysed 16,497 real MOT records for the 2002 Citroen C5. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2002 Citroën C5's 72.4% first-time pass rate falls noticeably short of the UK average of 80%, signalling above-average reliability issues for a car of this age. One in five of these vehicles (20.3%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a genuine concern for a potential buyer and warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
At 97,000 miles median, these C5s have typical mileage for their age, but they're averaging 3.48 failures and 11.6 advisories per MOT visit—suggesting persistent electrical, suspension, and wear-related problems rather than isolated faults. Before buying, insist on a full diagnostic check and recent service history, as the combination of high failure frequency and borderline safety issues makes this model a higher-maintenance proposition than most 20-year-olds.
What to check before buying a 2002 Citroen C5
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 20.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Citroen C5
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (73%) | 12,091 | 72.1% | 3.6 |
| Petrol (27%) | 4,385 | 73.2% | 3.13 |
| LPG (0%) | 18 | 68.5% | 3.78 |
| Electric (0%) | 2 | 80.4% | 1 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2002 Citroen C5 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2002 Citroen C5 vehicles fall between 76,467 and 121,297 miles.
2002 Citroen C5 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 421 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (6% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2022.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2002 Citroen C5
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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67.4%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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61.4%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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59.6%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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53.8%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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45.4%
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil
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39.1%
Oil leak
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37.9%
Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil
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34.2%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Citroen C5?
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