Citroen C2
From 20,243 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer C2s fare better: 2010 models pass at 64.7% vs 62.5% for 2004.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 and a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 1,370 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 | 1,370 |
| 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 | 1,220 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 793 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 633 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 629 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 626 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 581 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 573 |
| lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 552 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 537 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 26.8% of C2 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 18.2% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £120.
Citroen C2 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 2,676 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 2,676. At this rate, roughly 4.6 years until none remain. Now at 21% of its peak (58,473 in 2010 Q1).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 7,245 | 5,015 | +0 | -544 | -544 |
| 2025 Q2 | 7,853 | 4,951 | +0 | -533 | -533 |
| 2025 Q1 | 8,371 | 4,966 | +0 | -756 | -756 |
| 2024 Q4 | 9,034 | 5,059 | +0 | -843 | -843 |
| 2024 Q3 | 9,681 | 5,255 | +0 | -803 | -803 |
| 2024 Q2 | 10,381 | 5,358 | +0 | -652 | -652 |
| 2024 Q1 | 11,070 | 5,321 | +0 | -691 | -691 |
| 2023 Q4 | 11,812 | 5,270 | +0 | -544 | -544 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| C2 Design | Petrol | 896 | 13% |
| C2 Sx | Petrol | 805 | 12% |
| C2 Vtr | Petrol | 623 | 9% |
| C2 Vt | Petrol | 562 | 8% |
| C2 Furio | Petrol | 438 | 7% |
| C2 Vtr Hdi | Diesel | 406 | 6% |
| C2 Code | Petrol | 392 | 6% |
| C2 Vts | Diesel | 389 | 6% |
| C2 Cool | Petrol | 316 | 5% |
| C2 Cachet | Petrol | 272 | 4% |
| C2 Sx Hdi | Diesel | 247 | 4% |
| C2 L | Petrol | 241 | 4% |
| C2 Lx | Petrol | 227 | 3% |
| C2 Rhythm | Petrol | 195 | 3% |
| C2 Vts Hdi | Diesel | 166 | 2% |
| C2 Airplay+ | Petrol | 119 | 2% |
| C2 Vts 16V | Petrol | 109 | 2% |
| C2 Loeb | Petrol | 108 | 2% |
| C2 Vibe | Petrol | 96 | 1% |
| C2 Vtr Sensodrive | Petrol | 91 | 1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 64.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2009 | 63.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2008 | 66.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 |
| 2007 | 65.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 earlier years
| 2006 | 64.4% | 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 |
| 2005 | 62.6% | 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 |
| 2004 | 62.5% | 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 |
| 2003 | 63.5% | 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 C2s tested had between 67,808 and 113,119 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 88,053 median miles, the C2 has 0.04 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Citroen models
| Citroen C3 | 71.4% |
| Citroen Berlingo | 67.9% |
| Citroen C4 | 68.9% |
| Citroen C1 | 74.9% |
| Citroen Ds3 | 66.5% |
Common questions
What is the Citroen C2 MOT pass rate?
The Citroen C2 has a 64.4% MOT pass rate based on 20,243 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Citroen C2?
The most common MOT failure on the Citroen C2 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 1,370 failures. Other common issues include 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.
How many Citroen C2s are on UK roads?
There are 7,245 Citroen C2s currently licensed on UK roads, with 5,015 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Citroen C2 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Citroen C2 is 88,053 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 67,808 and 113,119 miles.
Buying a used C2?
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 64.4% pass rate and an average repair bill of £120 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 26.8% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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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.