2004 Citroen C2 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Citroen C2 passed 67.6% of its 12,252 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.3 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 29.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.8%) and suspension (18.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,216 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.8% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 32.3% of the time against 33.7% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.4% in 2021 to 31.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 2,306 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.4% | 2,254 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.3% | 1,389 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.9% | 1,208 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.0% | 863 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.6% | 811 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,216 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 760 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 706 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 688 |
| 5 | Wipers | 668 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 641 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.8% | 4,019 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.6% | 3,743 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.1% | 3,563 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.6% | 2,641 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.8% | 2,054 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.5% | 2,027 |
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 | 311 | 17.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,049 | 26.1% |
| 60-90k | 4,175 | 32.8% |
| 90-120k | 3,707 | 34.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,525 | 37.5% |
| 150k+ | 446 | 34.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,986 | 32.3% |
| Diesel | 1,266 | 33.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,172 | 33.4% |
| 2022 | 3,019 | 31.7% |
| 2023 | 2,249 | 32.5% |
| 2024 | 1,643 | 31.8% |
| 2025 | 1,169 | 31.6% |
What to check before buying a 2004 C2
On a 2004 C2, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (18.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (11.3% 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 2004 Citroen C2s pass their MOT?
67.6% of the 12,252 2004 Citroen C2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Citroen C2?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.8% of tests, followed by suspension (18.4%).
Does the 2004 C2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.0% in the 0-30k band to 34.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,252 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.