Citroen C-Zero MOT pass rate & common failures
1,135 MOT tests on the Citroen C-Zero (2008–2019) give it an 84.6% pass rate. That is 4.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.3%. Its most common failure areas are tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and suspension (4.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, linkage ball joint dust cover and washers — track rod end alone was recorded 63 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.2% once past 60-90k — 2.2× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every C-Zero model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 174 | 86.8% | 13.2% | Tyres |
| 2012 | 459 | 84.1% | 15.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 319 | 79.6% | 20.4% | Suspension |
| 2016 | 125 | 94.4% | 5.6% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 51 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.5% | 51 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.4% | 50 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.2% | 48 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.0% | 46 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 45 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 6 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 63 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 33 |
| 3 | Washers | 28 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 26 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 21 |
| 6 | Wipers | 20 |
| 7 | Tread depth | 18 |
| 8 | Service brake performance | 16 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.2% | 286 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.4% | 266 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.9% | 260 |
| 4 | Steering | 10.7% | 121 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.2% | 48 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 47 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 393 | 10.7% |
| 30-60k | 531 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 190 | 23.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 235 | 14.9% |
| 2022 | 244 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 237 | 14.3% |
| 2024 | 212 | 16.0% |
| 2025 | 207 | 16.4% |
What to check before buying a Citroen C-Zero
- Tyres (4.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (4.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (4.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Citroen C-Zero?
84.6% of the 1,135 Citroen C-Zero MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 15.4% fail rate, across model years 2008–2019.
What does the Citroen C-Zero most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, then suspension (4.5%).
How much does mileage affect C-Zero MOT results?
Fail rates run at 10.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 23.2% for 60-90k, a 12.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,135 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.