Citroen C1
From 222,119 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer C1s fare better: 2021 models pass at 95.4% vs 60.7% for 2005.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake and tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 5,835 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 5,835 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 5,711 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 5,161 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 4,673 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 4,527 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 4,278 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 4,188 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 3,701 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 3,561 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 3,318 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 17.2% of C1 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 45.3% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £114.
The warranty question
A new C1 passes its MOT 90% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 81.1%, a 8.9 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 74.5%. With an average repair bill of £114 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a C1 that's past its third birthday.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 75% while Diesel versions pass at 62.6%, a 12 percentage point gap.
Citroen C1 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 5,033 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 5,033. At this rate, roughly 31.9 years until none remain.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 154,836 | 5,850 | +0 | -1,434 | -1,434 |
| 2025 Q2 | 156,426 | 5,694 | +0 | -1,348 | -1,348 |
| 2025 Q1 | 157,906 | 5,562 | +0 | -1,113 | -1,113 |
| 2024 Q4 | 159,524 | 5,057 | +0 | -1,138 | -1,138 |
| 2024 Q3 | 161,075 | 4,644 | +0 | -1,312 | -1,312 |
| 2024 Q2 | 162,658 | 4,373 | +0 | -1,242 | -1,242 |
| 2024 Q1 | 163,877 | 4,396 | +0 | -943 | -943 |
| 2023 Q4 | 165,164 | 4,052 | +0 | -473 | -473 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 Vtr | Battery Electric | 28,784 | 20% |
| C1 Feel | Petrol | 22,631 | 16% |
| C1 Vt | Gas | 12,389 | 9% |
| C1 Flair Puretech | Petrol | 12,093 | 8% |
| C1 Vtr+ | Petrol | 11,701 | 8% |
| C1 Rhythm | Battery Electric | 8,186 | 6% |
| C1 Vibe | Petrol | 8,151 | 6% |
| C1 Flair | Petrol | 6,768 | 5% |
| C1 Feel Puretech | Petrol | 6,391 | 4% |
| C1 Splash | Petrol | 4,504 | 3% |
| C1 Flair S-A | Petrol | 4,325 | 3% |
| C1 Edition | Petrol | 4,198 | 3% |
| C1 Shine | Petrol | 3,076 | 2% |
| C1 Urban Ride | Petrol | 2,884 | 2% |
| C1 Airscape Flair Puretech | Petrol | 1,839 | 1% |
| C1 Platinum | Petrol | 1,266 | <1% |
| C1 Flair S/S | Petrol | 1,116 | <1% |
| C1 Connexion | Petrol | 1,045 | <1% |
| C1 Airscape Feel Puretech | Petrol | 933 | <1% |
| C1 Touch | Petrol | 903 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 95.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 2020 | 90% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2019 | 89.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2018 | 86.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
13 earlier years
| 2017 | 83.1% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2016 | 81.1% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2015 | 80.5% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2014 | 78.9% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2013 | 74.5% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2012 | 73.2% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2011 | 69.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2010 | 69.8% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 2009 | 66.2% | significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2008 | 64.4% | significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2007 | 63.9% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2006 | 63.1% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2005 | 60.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
Typical mileage
Half of all C1s tested had between 42,598 and 85,633 miles on the clock.
At 67,016 median miles, the C1 has 0.037 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Citroen models
| Citroen C3 | 71.4% |
| Citroen Berlingo | 67.9% |
| Citroen C4 | 68.9% |
| Citroen Ds3 | 66.5% |
| Citroen Relay | 70.2% |
Common questions
What is the Citroen C1 MOT pass rate?
The Citroen C1 has a 74.9% MOT pass rate based on 222,119 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Citroen C1?
The most common MOT failure on the Citroen C1 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 5,835 failures. Other common issues include significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake.
How many Citroen C1s are on UK roads?
There are 154,836 Citroen C1s currently licensed on UK roads, with 5,850 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Citroen C1 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Citroen C1 is 67,016 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 42,598 and 85,633 miles.
Buying a used C1?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 74.9% pass rate and an average repair bill of £114 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.