2009 Citroen C1 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Citroen C1 passed 74.2% of its 79,445 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail at 25.7%, so the 2009 C1 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.0%) and brakes (13.9%) 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 7,947 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.1% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 25.7% of the time against 26.9% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 38.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 11,904 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.9% | 11,067 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.4% | 5,882 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.4% | 4,319 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 3,682 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 3,409 |
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 | 7,947 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,473 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 4,279 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 4,245 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,723 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 2,578 |
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 | 38.0% | 30,215 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.8% | 22,879 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.6% | 22,718 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 9,843 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.8% | 8,574 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.9% | 5,494 |
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 | 3,507 | 15.7% |
| 30-60k | 17,732 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 30,400 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 19,860 | 29.2% |
| 120-150k | 6,284 | 31.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,646 | 32.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 76,684 | 25.7% |
| Diesel | 2,754 | 26.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,627 | 23.4% |
| 2022 | 16,699 | 24.9% |
| 2023 | 16,169 | 25.7% |
| 2024 | 15,587 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 14,363 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2009 C1
On a 2009 C1, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.9% 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 (7.4% 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 2009 Citroen C1s pass their MOT?
74.2% of the 79,445 2009 Citroen C1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Citroen C1?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by brakes (13.9%).
Does the 2009 C1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.7% in the 0-30k band to 32.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 79,445 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.