2007 Citroen C2 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Citroen C2 passed 70.3% of its 16,949 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2007 C2 comes out 2.1pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.4%) and lighting & signalling (14.4%) 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, joints and ball joint — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,010 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.8% in the 0-30k band and 34.8% in the 150k+ band, a 18.0-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 29.5% fail against 31.0% for diesel, a 1.5-point gap across 16,949 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 31.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 29.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.4% | 2,785 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 2,440 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.9% | 1,674 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.6% | 1,458 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.9% | 1,177 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.3% | 1,074 |
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 | 1,010 |
| 2 | Joints | 858 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 846 |
| 4 | Wipers | 830 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 763 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 755 |
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 | 31.3% | 5,306 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.9% | 4,721 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.3% | 4,280 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.3% | 2,769 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 2,747 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.7% | 2,655 |
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 | 542 | 16.8% |
| 30-60k | 3,102 | 24.1% |
| 60-90k | 6,671 | 30.1% |
| 90-120k | 4,974 | 32.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,306 | 32.5% |
| 150k+ | 348 | 34.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 15,122 | 29.5% |
| Diesel | 1,827 | 31.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,011 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 4,108 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 3,326 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 2,567 | 29.2% |
| 2025 | 1,937 | 31.0% |
What to check before buying a 2007 C2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.9% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2007 Citroen C2s pass their MOT?
70.3% of the 16,949 2007 Citroen C2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Citroen C2?
Suspension, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.4%).
Does the 2007 C2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.8% in the 0-30k band to 34.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,949 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.