Used car guide

2021 Citroen C5 hybrid: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the hybrid Citroen C5 first registered in 2021 (hybrid cars only): we looked at the 236 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 236 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

236MOTs of 2021 hybrid cars, done in 2023–2025
86%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
7,000typical miles a year
29%had tyres flagged

Common 2021 Citroen C5 hybrid MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2021 Citroen C5 hybrid MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    29% 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.

  • Brakes
    10% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    4% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    3% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Suspension
    1% 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2021 Citroen C5 hybrid

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

  1. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Citroen C5?

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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%
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%
20041,112Lights and electrics 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 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score