2010 Citroen C1 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Citroen C1 passed 77.3% of its 83,478 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail 24.3% of the time, so this is 1.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.6% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 4,560 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.9% in the 0-30k band and 31.1% in the 150k+ band, a 16.2-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 21.4% of the time against 22.7% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 11,360 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.8% | 8,188 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.9% | 4,917 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.6% | 4,644 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 3,523 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 3,475 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 4,560 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 4,046 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 3,995 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 3,938 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,801 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 2,722 |
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 | 36.2% | 30,256 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.1% | 23,430 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.3% | 20,322 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 12,156 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.1% | 7,632 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.9% | 5,716 |
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 | 4,196 | 14.9% |
| 30-60k | 22,837 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 33,701 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 17,086 | 26.9% |
| 120-150k | 4,470 | 28.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,153 | 31.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 82,794 | 22.7% |
| Diesel | 663 | 21.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,946 | 19.6% |
| 2022 | 16,990 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 16,967 | 22.7% |
| 2024 | 16,691 | 24.7% |
| 2025 | 15,884 | 25.8% |
What to check before buying a 2010 C1
On a 2010 C1, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.8% 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 (5.9% 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 2010 Citroen C1s pass their MOT?
77.3% of the 83,478 2010 Citroen C1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Citroen C1?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by brakes (9.8%).
Does the 2010 C1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.9% in the 0-30k band to 31.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 83,478 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.