2021 Citroen C1 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Citroen C1 passed 93.8% of its 9,522 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail at 6.6%, so the 2021 C1 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.0%) and brakes (2.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp aim and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 121 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.7% versus 5.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 3.8% of tests failed in 2023 against 7.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.0% | 289 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.1% | 204 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.7% | 165 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 156 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 59 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 121 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 116 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 115 |
| 4 | Wipers | 110 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 91 |
| 6 | Washers | 57 |
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 | 17.3% | 1,647 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.8% | 1,313 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.8% | 454 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.0% | 380 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.9% | 180 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.1% | 101 |
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 | 8,127 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,317 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 69 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 158 | 3.8% |
| 2024 | 4,568 | 5.4% |
| 2025 | 4,793 | 7.2% |
What to check before buying a 2021 C1
On a 2021 C1, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.0% 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.
- Brakes (2.1% 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.
- Visibility (1.7% 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.
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 2021 Citroen C1s pass their MOT?
93.8% of the 9,522 2021 Citroen C1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Citroen C1?
Tyres, recorded in 3.0% of tests, followed by brakes (2.1%).
Does the 2021 C1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,522 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.