Does the Citroen C5 fail the MOT on seat belts and airbags more than it should?
The Citroen C5 records 0.55 seat belts and airbags failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 1.36 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−0.81, 95% interval −0.88 to −0.74). It ranks 506 of 627 models on seat belts and airbags (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on seat belts and airbags · check a Citroen C5 by registration
What exactly fails on seat belts and airbags?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Citroen C5 is “An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction”, recorded 162 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction | 162 | 0.14 |
| Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type | 114 | 0.10 |
| Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended | 110 | 0.10 |
| Seat belt retractor not functioning as intended | 85 | 0.08 |
| The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 42 | 0.04 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 112,677 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Citroen C5 gets a seat belts and airbags advisory, how often does it fail next time?
1.4% of Citroen C5 MOTs with a seat belts and airbags advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 11.9 months and 5,463 miles later (834 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 834 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Citroen C5 2001 · Citroen C5 2002 · Citroen C5 2003 · Citroen C5 2004 · Citroen C5 2005 · Citroen C5 2006 · Citroen C5 2007 · Citroen C5 2008 · Citroen C5 2009 · Citroen C5 2010 · Citroen C5 2011 · Citroen C5 2012 · Citroen C5 2013 · Citroen C5 2014 · Citroen C5 2015 · Citroen C5 2016 · Citroen C5 2019 · Citroen C5 2020 · Citroen C5 in Norway · Citroen C5 in Finland · Citroen C5 in the Netherlands · Citroen C5 by postcode area · Citroen C5 body, chassis and structure failures · Citroen C5 brakes failures · Citroen C5 vehicle identification failures · Citroen C5 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Citroen C5 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Citroen C5 road wheels failures · Citroen C5 steering failures · Citroen C5 suspension failures · Citroen C5 tyres failures · Citroen C5 visibility failures