Citroen C6 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Citroen C6 appears in 2,356 MOT tests spanning model years 2005–2020, and 78.5% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 26.2% of the time, so this is 4.6pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.9%) and brakes (8.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp and service brake performance — pins and bushes alone was recorded 100 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.7% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every C6 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 382 | 79.1% | 20.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 808 | 78.0% | 22.0% | Brakes |
| 2008 | 442 | 72.0% | 28.1% | Brakes |
| 2009 | 458 | 81.0% | 19.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 206 | 85.0% | 15.0% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 233 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.6% | 202 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.5% | 177 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.5% | 106 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 94 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 88 |
| 7 | Visibility | 2.2% | 51 |
| 8 | Steering | 1.0% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 100 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 96 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 84 |
| 4 | Anti-lock braking system | 70 |
| 5 | Joints | 68 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 66 |
| 7 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 65 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 59 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 24.1% | 568 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.0% | 542 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.6% | 532 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.6% | 227 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.2% | 192 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 191 |
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 | 38 | 13.2% |
| 30-60k | 241 | 16.2% |
| 60-90k | 668 | 19.9% |
| 90-120k | 657 | 22.7% |
| 120-150k | 460 | 24.3% |
| 150k+ | 278 | 22.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,222 | 21.5% |
| Petrol | 134 | 21.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 575 | 22.8% |
| 2022 | 532 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 468 | 19.9% |
| 2024 | 422 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 359 | 22.3% |
What to check before buying a Citroen C6
- Lighting & signalling (9.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.6% 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.
- Suspension (7.5% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Citroen C6?
78.5% of the 2,356 Citroen C6 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 21.5% fail rate, across model years 2005–2020.
What does the Citroen C6 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.9% of tests, then brakes (8.6%).
How much does mileage affect C6 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 13.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 22.7% for 150k+, a 9.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,356 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.