2007 Citroen C1 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 52,476 MOT tests, the 2007 Citroen C1 recorded a 72.1% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail at 28.1%, so the 2007 C1 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.8% of all tests — 4.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, position lamp and headlamp aim — service brake performance alone was recorded 3,547 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.4% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 27.9% of the time against 28.6% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 8,794 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.2% | 6,422 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.5% | 5,530 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 3,716 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 3,296 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.0% | 3,174 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 3,547 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 3,520 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 3,478 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 3,019 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 3,009 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,579 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 37.6% | 19,720 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.8% | 19,311 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.9% | 15,686 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 8,242 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.1% | 6,878 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.4% | 3,376 |
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 | 1,595 | 15.6% |
| 30-60k | 8,269 | 22.0% |
| 60-90k | 18,998 | 27.2% |
| 90-120k | 16,257 | 30.6% |
| 120-150k | 5,898 | 32.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,443 | 33.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 50,950 | 27.9% |
| Diesel | 1,526 | 28.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,357 | 26.0% |
| 2022 | 11,722 | 27.1% |
| 2023 | 10,705 | 28.2% |
| 2024 | 9,562 | 29.5% |
| 2025 | 8,130 | 29.6% |
What to check before buying a 2007 C1
On a 2007 C1, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.2% 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.
- Suspension (10.5% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2007 Citroen C1s pass their MOT?
72.1% of the 52,476 2007 Citroen C1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Citroen C1?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests, followed by brakes (12.2%).
Does the 2007 C1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 0-30k band to 33.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 52,476 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.