2018 Citroen C1 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 39,210 MOT tests, the 2018 Citroen C1 recorded a 91.6% pass rate. Against city cars of a similar age (9.7% fail rate), the 2018 C1 comes out 1.3pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.0%) and visibility (3.9%) 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 1,129 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 36.7% once past 120-150k — 5.7× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.0% | 1,549 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.9% | 1,543 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 998 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.4% | 933 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 235 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 217 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,129 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 743 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 588 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 541 |
| 5 | Washers | 412 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 400 |
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 | 24.2% | 9,504 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.3% | 5,602 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.9% | 1,930 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.6% | 1,802 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 1,088 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 858 |
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 | 26,198 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 11,352 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,460 | 17.9% |
| 90-120k | 164 | 17.1% |
| 120-150k | 30 | 36.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,770 | 5.0% |
| 2022 | 7,757 | 6.8% |
| 2023 | 7,932 | 9.3% |
| 2024 | 7,818 | 10.2% |
| 2025 | 7,933 | 10.7% |
What to check before buying a 2018 C1
On a 2018 C1, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.0% 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.
- Visibility (3.9% 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 (2.5% 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 2018 Citroen C1s pass their MOT?
91.6% of the 39,210 2018 Citroen C1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Citroen C1?
Tyres, recorded in 4.0% of tests, followed by visibility (3.9%).
Does the 2018 C1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 36.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 39,210 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.