2008 Citroen C6 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 442 MOT tests, the 2008 Citroen C6 recorded a 72.0% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 26.1% of the time, so this is 1.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (11.5%) and lighting & signalling (10.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, pins and bushes and service brake performance — headlamp alone was recorded 24 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 22.9% versus 31.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.5% | 51 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 48 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.7% | 34 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 33 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.2% | 23 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 24 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 22 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 20 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 20 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 20 |
| 6 | Anti-lock braking system | 17 |
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 | 26.5% | 117 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.2% | 107 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.7% | 96 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 37 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.8% | 30 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 28 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 48 | 31.3% |
| 60-90k | 100 | 22.0% |
| 90-120k | 179 | 31.8% |
| 120-150k | 70 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 35 | 22.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 114 | 27.2% |
| 2022 | 96 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 90 | 26.7% |
| 2024 | 81 | 32.1% |
| 2025 | 61 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a 2008 C6
On a 2008 C6, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (11.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.7% 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
How many 2008 Citroen C6s pass their MOT?
72.0% of the 442 2008 Citroen C6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Citroen C6?
Brakes, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.9%).
Does the 2008 C6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.3% in the 30-60k band to 22.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 442 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.