2019 Citroen C1 — MOT failures & pass rate
22,823 MOT tests on the 2019 Citroen C1 are in this dataset, and 92.5% of them passed. That is 1.1 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 8.7%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.7%) and visibility (3.5%) 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 544 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.2% versus 6.2%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 2.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.7% | 839 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.5% | 797 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.5% | 578 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 519 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 120 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 38 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 544 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 346 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 322 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 318 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 314 |
| 6 | Washers | 249 |
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 | 20.8% | 4,756 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.8% | 3,148 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.0% | 1,138 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.0% | 1,132 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 613 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 493 |
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 | 17,076 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 5,201 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 476 | 12.8% |
| 90-120k | 53 | 13.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 262 | 2.7% |
| 2022 | 5,590 | 4.8% |
| 2023 | 5,654 | 7.1% |
| 2024 | 5,566 | 8.4% |
| 2025 | 5,751 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a 2019 C1
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.7% 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 (3.5% 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.
- Brakes (2.5% 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 2019 Citroen C1s pass their MOT?
92.5% of the 22,823 2019 Citroen C1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Citroen C1?
Tyres, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by visibility (3.5%).
Does the 2019 C1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 13.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,823 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.