Citroen C6
From 581 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are warning device shows system malfunction, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and parking brake inoperative on one side. The top issue, warning device shows system malfunction, caused 16 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.
| warning device shows system malfunction | 16 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 16 |
| parking brake inoperative on one side | 15 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 13 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 11 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 10 |
| an obvious leak from any part of the system | 10 |
| parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value | 10 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 9 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 8 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 40.7% of C6 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 29.7% 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 £134.
Citroen C6 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 29 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 28. At this rate, roughly 17.7 years until none remain. Now at 63.4% of its peak (782 in 2010 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 243 | 253 | +0 | -9 | -9 |
| 2025 Q2 | 261 | 244 | +0 | -2 | -2 |
| 2025 Q1 | 254 | 253 | +0 | -11 | -11 |
| 2024 Q4 | 267 | 251 | +1 | -7 | -6 |
| 2024 Q3 | 279 | 245 | +0 | -23 | -23 |
| 2024 Q2 | 304 | 243 | +1 | -0 | +11 |
| 2024 Q1 | 303 | 233 | +0 | -6 | -6 |
| 2023 Q4 | 309 | 233 | +0 | -8 | -8 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 73.3% | significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, warning device shows system malfunction |
| 2007 | 75.6% | parking brake inoperative on one side, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all C6s tested had between 78,542 and 133,793 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 97,052 median miles, the C6 has 0.022 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 C6 MOT pass rate?
The Citroen C6 has a 78.8% MOT pass rate based on 581 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Citroen C6?
The most common MOT failure on the Citroen C6 is warning device shows system malfunction, which caused 16 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Citroen C6s are on UK roads?
There are 243 Citroen C6s currently licensed on UK roads, with 253 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Citroen C6 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Citroen C6 is 97,052 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 78,542 and 133,793 miles.
Buying a used C6?
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 78.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £134 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 40.7% 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.