2017 Citroen C1 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 51,031 MOT tests, the 2017 Citroen C1 recorded an 88.9% pass rate. That is effectively the same as city cars of a similar age (11.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.6%) and visibility (4.2%) 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 brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 1,543 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.9% in the 0-30k band and 25.9% in the 120-150k band, a 18.0-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.6% | 2,325 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.2% | 2,131 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 1,860 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.5% | 1,809 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 725 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 674 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,543 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,205 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 908 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 816 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 686 |
| 6 | Washers | 587 |
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 | 26.4% | 13,449 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.8% | 8,577 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.5% | 3,842 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 2,594 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.2% | 1,655 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 1,488 |
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 | 25,890 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 20,984 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 3,687 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 398 | 25.4% |
| 120-150k | 58 | 25.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,967 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 10,158 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 10,276 | 11.2% |
| 2024 | 10,269 | 13.0% |
| 2025 | 10,361 | 13.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 C1
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.6% 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.
- Visibility (4.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (3.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2017 Citroen C1s pass their MOT?
88.9% of the 51,031 2017 Citroen C1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Citroen C1?
Tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by visibility (4.2%).
Does the 2017 C1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 25.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 51,031 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.