2008 Citroen C1 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 71,133 MOT tests, the 2008 Citroen C1 recorded a 71.9% pass rate. That is 1.0 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.4%) and brakes (13.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, position lamp and headlamp aim — service brake performance alone was recorded 6,354 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 34.0% versus 15.0%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 26.7% of the time against 28.1% for petrol.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 11,704 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.8% | 9,825 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.8% | 6,960 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 4,849 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 4,233 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.9% | 4,214 |
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 | 6,354 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,678 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 4,458 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 4,053 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 3,617 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,530 |
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 | 38.2% | 27,175 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.6% | 23,891 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.6% | 20,376 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 10,079 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.7% | 8,347 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 5,242 |
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 | 1,855 | 15.0% |
| 30-60k | 12,119 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 27,104 | 27.3% |
| 90-120k | 21,278 | 31.0% |
| 120-150k | 6,991 | 33.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,760 | 34.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 70,101 | 28.1% |
| Diesel | 1,032 | 26.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,934 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 15,401 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 14,630 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 13,413 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 11,755 | 29.8% |
What to check before buying a 2008 C1
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.8% 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 (9.8% 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 2008 Citroen C1s pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 71,133 2008 Citroen C1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Citroen C1?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by brakes (13.8%).
Does the 2008 C1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.0% in the 0-30k band to 34.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 71,133 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.