2014 Citroen C1 — MOT failures & pass rate
79,875 MOT tests on the 2014 Citroen C1 are in this dataset, and 84.6% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail 17.3% of the time, so this is 2.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.9%) and brakes (6.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,729 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.5% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 5,506 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.2% | 4,911 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.9% | 4,697 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 2,843 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.6% | 2,086 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 1,676 |
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 | 2,729 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,383 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 1,982 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,739 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,413 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 1,329 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 27.0% | 21,560 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.8% | 18,967 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.4% | 13,119 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 4,103 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 3,119 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 2,683 |
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 | 13,764 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 41,009 | 14.1% |
| 60-90k | 19,944 | 19.7% |
| 90-120k | 4,351 | 23.7% |
| 120-150k | 652 | 22.4% |
| 150k+ | 138 | 27.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,728 | 13.1% |
| 2022 | 15,884 | 14.0% |
| 2023 | 16,000 | 15.3% |
| 2024 | 16,162 | 16.9% |
| 2025 | 16,101 | 17.6% |
What to check before buying a 2014 C1
On a 2014 C1, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.2% 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 (5.9% 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 2014 Citroen C1s pass their MOT?
84.6% of the 79,875 2014 Citroen C1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Citroen C1?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.9% of tests, followed by brakes (6.2%).
Does the 2014 C1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 27.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 79,875 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.