2009 Citroen C2 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Citroen C2 passed 71.2% of its 16,682 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.8 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 25.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.1%) and suspension (15.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, stop lamp and position lamp — joints alone was recorded 1,400 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.6% versus 17.7%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.6% of the time against 29.4% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 2,844 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.1% | 2,525 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.3% | 1,879 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.5% | 1,416 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.5% | 1,256 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.7% | 947 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 1,400 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 1,210 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,015 |
| 4 | Wipers | 854 |
| 5 | Washers | 842 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 753 |
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 | 30.1% | 5,022 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.5% | 4,759 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.2% | 4,206 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.3% | 2,878 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.5% | 2,589 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 2,418 |
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 | 718 | 17.7% |
| 30-60k | 3,754 | 23.8% |
| 60-90k | 6,975 | 30.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,783 | 31.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,135 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 304 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,832 | 28.6% |
| Diesel | 3,850 | 29.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,226 | 28.2% |
| 2022 | 3,785 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 3,411 | 29.3% |
| 2024 | 2,898 | 29.3% |
| 2025 | 2,362 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 C2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.1% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.3% 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 2009 Citroen C2s pass their MOT?
71.2% of the 16,682 2009 Citroen C2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Citroen C2?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.1% of tests, followed by suspension (15.1%).
Does the 2009 C2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.7% in the 0-30k band to 32.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,682 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.