2016 Citroen C1 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Citroen C1 passed 86.9% of its 103,921 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail at 13.7%, so the 2016 C1 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.1%) and lighting & signalling (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 2,798 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.5% once past 150k — 3.2× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.1% | 5,303 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 4,966 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.5% | 4,628 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.0% | 4,173 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 2,400 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 1,815 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 2,798 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,758 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,038 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,933 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 1,562 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 1,552 |
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 | 28.1% | 29,209 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.2% | 19,918 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.6% | 10,995 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.4% | 5,600 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.1% | 4,293 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 3,257 |
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 | 33,703 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 53,864 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 14,233 | 19.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,886 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 193 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 40 | 27.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,338 | 10.2% |
| 2022 | 20,633 | 11.5% |
| 2023 | 20,870 | 13.2% |
| 2024 | 20,889 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 21,191 | 15.7% |
What to check before buying a 2016 C1
On a 2016 C1, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.5% 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.
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 2016 Citroen C1s pass their MOT?
86.9% of the 103,921 2016 Citroen C1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Citroen C1?
Tyres, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.8%).
Does the 2016 C1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 27.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 103,921 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.