Used car guide

2003 Citroen C5: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Citroen C5s, from 227 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 227 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

227MOT tests in 2025
56%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
4,900typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Citroen C5s than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Shock absorbers2.1× usual
    Citroen C5
    14.1% All 2003 cars
    6.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 1.6% of all 2003 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.

By area

The share of 2003 Citroen C5 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    47% 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
    41% 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
    36% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    36% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    27% 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
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2021941Tyres 28%
20205,125Tyres 30%
20196,602Tyres 30%
2015177Tyres 28%
2014225Suspension 32%
2013326Suspension 32%
2012336Suspension 43%
2011497Suspension 44%
2010946Suspension 45%
20091,329Suspension 44%
2008878Suspension 46%
2007321Suspension 43%
2006315Suspension 43%
2005224Suspension 40%
2004272Lights and electrics 43%
2002173Brakes 42%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Citroen C5s registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score