Used car guide

2004 Citroen C5 petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Citroen C5 first registered in 2004 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 198 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 198 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

198MOTs of 2004 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
54%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 57%)
4,600typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2004 Citroen C5 petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2004 Citroen C5 petrol than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Shock absorbers2.3× usual
    Citroen C5
    15.2% All 2004 cars
    6.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 1.7% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

Common 2004 Citroen C5 petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2004 Citroen C5 petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    40% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    37% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    36% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    32% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    32% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    14% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2004 Citroen C5 petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2004 Citroen C5 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Citroen C5?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Citroen C5 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023–Too new for MOT data
2022242Tyres 21%
20211,959Tyres 28%
202015,367Tyres 29%
201919,556Tyres 29%
2018–Too few tests
2016304Tyres 23%
2015556Tyres 26%
2014695Suspension 28%
20131,051Tyres 29%
20121,090Suspension 39%
20111,727Suspension 39%
20103,535Suspension 41%
20095,321Suspension 42%
20083,583Suspension 44%
20071,278Suspension 44%
20061,298Brakes 41%
2005903Brakes 42%
2003951Brakes 46%
2002726Brakes 42%
2001283Suspension 39%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Citroen C5 cars first registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score