2013 Citroen C1 — MOT failures & pass rate
84,239 MOT tests on the 2013 Citroen C1 are in this dataset, and 82.5% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail 19.1% of the time, so this is 1.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.9% of tests against 5.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and switch — headlamp aim alone was recorded 4,471 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.2% versus 11.0%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 10,038 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.9% | 4,936 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.0% | 4,227 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 2,883 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.3% | 2,809 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 1,845 |
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 | 4,471 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,677 |
| 3 | Switch | 1,933 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 1,823 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,696 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,600 |
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 | 27.5% | 23,166 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.1% | 22,788 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.4% | 16,325 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 6,088 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 4,946 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.8% | 4,018 |
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 | 9,848 | 11.0% |
| 30-60k | 38,162 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 26,934 | 20.5% |
| 90-120k | 7,507 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,444 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 336 | 29.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,541 | 14.6% |
| 2022 | 16,778 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 16,938 | 17.3% |
| 2024 | 17,078 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 16,904 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 2013 C1
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.9% 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.
- Tyres (5.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2013 Citroen C1s pass their MOT?
82.5% of the 84,239 2013 Citroen C1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Citroen C1?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.9% of tests, followed by brakes (5.9%).
Does the 2013 C1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.0% in the 0-30k band to 29.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 84,239 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.