Citroen C1 MOT failure rate and common faults
162,793 Citroen C1 cars aged 3 to 20 took their MOT in 2025, and 31.1% failed at the first attempt. An average car of the same age failed 31.9% of the time, which makes the Citroen C1 about as likely to fail than the typical car on the road. Here is what fails, and which years to look for.
31.1%
failed first time
162,793 MOT tests in 2025
-2%
vs same age average
average car of this age mix: 31.9%
117 of 208
age adjusted rank
among cars; 1 fails least
110.2
dangerous defects per 1,000
same age average: 114.9
What fails on a Citroen C1 MOT
Failure items recorded per 1,000 tests, by part of the car, set against an average car with exactly the same spread of ages. A figure well above average is a weak spot worth checking before you buy.
The most common Citroen C1 MOT failures
The individual failure items testers recorded most often, per 1,000 tests.
| Failure item | Area | Per 1,000 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Position lamp: not working | Lights and electrics | 42.3 |
| Service brake performance: excessively binding | Brakes | 38.0 |
| Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 32.3 |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | Lights and electrics | 30.4 |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | Brakes | 26.5 |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | Suspension | 25.2 |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Windscreen, wipers and mirrors | 24.8 |
| Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits | Engine, emissions and leaks | 18.7 |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 18.0 |
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights and electrics | 17.0 |
Citroen C1 MOT failure rate by year
Every car fails more often as it ages, so each registration year is compared with the average for all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 500 tests are left out.
| First registered | Tests | Failed | Same age average | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,491 | 10.1% | 12.8% | 20,500 |
| 2020 | 3,732 | 13.5% | 14.1% | 25,000 |
| 2019 | 5,230 | 15.7% | 16.5% | 30,300 |
| 2018 | 7,169 | 15.8% | 19.1% | 35,700 |
| 2017 | 9,084 | 19.9% | 21.8% | 42,100 |
| 2016 | 18,173 | 23.6% | 25.1% | 50,300 |
| 2015 | 17,786 | 24.4% | 28.1% | 56,100 |
| 2014 | 13,478 | 26.9% | 31.4% | 60,100 |
| 2013 | 13,733 | 32.2% | 34.3% | 66,500 |
| 2012 | 13,449 | 35.4% | 36.6% | 72,200 |
| 2011 | 13,201 | 39.4% | 38.8% | 77,700 |
| 2010 | 12,349 | 41.1% | 40.7% | 81,200 |
| 2009 | 10,973 | 44.5% | 41.8% | 85,800 |
| 2008 | 8,887 | 47.4% | 42.9% | 90,400 |
| 2007 | 6,235 | 46.7% | 42.7% | 91,400 |
| 2006 | 3,873 | 48.3% | 43.0% | 96,100 |
| 2005 | 618 | 46.9% | 42.4% | 95,600 |
Advisories to look for in a Citroen C1's MOT history
An advisory is a tester's warning that something is wearing but has not failed yet. These are the ones written most often on the Citroen C1, per 1,000 tests. If the car you are looking at has one of these, ask whether it has been fixed since.
- Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge243.4
- Tyres: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing233.5
- Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material181.8
- Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement143.8
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened135.6
- Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement99.9
Checking a used Citroen C1 before you buy
Against cars of the same age, the Citroen C1 fails more often than average on brakes and engine, emissions and leaks. Start there.
Brakes
Look through the wheel spokes at the discs for a deep lip or scoring, check the handbrake holds the car on a slope, and feel for a pull to one side when braking hard.
Engine, emissions and leaks
Start the car from cold and watch the exhaust for smoke, look underneath for oil or fuel leaks, and make sure the engine warning light comes on with the ignition and goes out once the engine runs.
Averages only take you so far. The specific car's MOT history shows whether it has already failed on any of these, how often advisories were ignored, and whether the mileage climbs steadily from test to test. Read our guide to reading a car's MOT history before you go to view it.
Citroen C1 MOT questions
What is the Citroen C1 MOT failure rate?
31.1% of Citroen C1 cars failed their first MOT test of 2025, from 162,793 tests on vehicles aged 3 to 20. An average car with the same age mix failed 31.9% of the time, so the Citroen C1 was about as likely to fail.
What fails most often on a Citroen C1 MOT?
Lights and electrics caused the most failure items, at 216 per 1,000 tests. The single most common failure item was "Position lamp: not working", recorded 42.3 times per 1,000 tests.
Which Citroen C1 year has the best MOT record?
Measured against cars of the same age, 2021 registrations did best: 10.1% failed against an average of 12.8% for cars that age. Older cars always fail more often, so compare a year with its age group rather than with newer cars.
Does this tell me whether a particular Citroen C1 will pass?
No. These are averages across every Citroen C1 tested in 2025. The car in front of you has its own record: its full MOT history shows every pass, failure and advisory it has had, and it is free to view by registration.
Other Citroen models
- Citroen C334.5% failed
- Citroen Berlingo40.6% failed
- Citroen C439.6% failed
- Citroen DS348.2% failed
- Citroen Dispatch39.6% failed
- Citroen C3 Aircross15.4% failed
Ranked close to the Citroen C1
- Mitsubishi Outlanderrank 114
- Ford Mondeorank 115
- Suzuki SX4rank 116
- Suzuki Swiftrank 118
How these figures are calculated
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 release. We count first tests of cars and small vans (class 4) aged 3 to 20, so a car that fails and is retested is counted once. A failure includes faults fixed and passed within the same visit. The same age average weights the national failure rate for each age by how many Citroen C1 cars of that age were tested, so a model is never penalised for having an older fleet. Make and model are as recorded at the test; trim levels are combined. Full method and rankings.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.