2011 Citroen C1 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 86,897 MOT tests, the 2011 Citroen C1 recorded a 78.6% pass rate. Against city cars of a similar age (22.7% fail rate), the 2011 C1 comes out 1.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.9% of tests against 8.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 5,135 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.6% versus 12.9%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 12,923 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.3% | 7,176 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.7% | 4,944 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.4% | 4,711 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 3,533 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 2,783 |
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 | 5,135 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,469 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,687 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,969 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 2,947 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 2,290 |
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 | 34.1% | 29,665 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.2% | 24,520 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.9% | 22,483 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 9,386 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 6,885 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.0% | 5,190 |
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 | 4,813 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 27,792 | 17.7% |
| 60-90k | 34,677 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 15,344 | 26.3% |
| 120-150k | 3,460 | 29.5% |
| 150k+ | 802 | 30.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 86,861 | 21.4% |
| Diesel | 36 | 22.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,451 | 18.6% |
| 2022 | 17,514 | 19.6% |
| 2023 | 17,603 | 21.4% |
| 2024 | 17,434 | 23.3% |
| 2025 | 16,895 | 24.3% |
What to check before buying a 2011 C1
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.3% 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 (5.7% 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 2011 Citroen C1s pass their MOT?
78.6% of the 86,897 2011 Citroen C1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Citroen C1?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.9% of tests, followed by brakes (8.3%).
Does the 2011 C1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 30.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 86,897 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.