2020 Citroen C1 — MOT failures & pass rate
12,255 MOT tests on the 2020 Citroen C1 are in this dataset, and 92.4% of them passed. That is effectively the same as city cars of a similar age (7.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.3%) and visibility (2.4%) 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 198 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.7% versus 6.6%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 2.8% of tests failed in 2022 against 9.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.3% | 523 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.4% | 292 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.4% | 288 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 212 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 87 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 198 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 192 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 159 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 151 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 129 |
| 6 | Washers | 88 |
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 | 20.0% | 2,445 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.0% | 1,958 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.3% | 774 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.3% | 524 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 251 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 203 |
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 | 10,020 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,095 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 124 | 17.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 176 | 2.8% |
| 2023 | 3,994 | 5.4% |
| 2024 | 4,003 | 8.3% |
| 2025 | 4,077 | 9.3% |
What to check before buying a 2020 C1
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.3% 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 (2.4% 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 (2.4% 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 2020 Citroen C1s pass their MOT?
92.4% of the 12,255 2020 Citroen C1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Citroen C1?
Tyres, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by visibility (2.4%).
Does the 2020 C1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 17.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,255 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.