2009 Citroen C6 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Citroen C6 passed 81.0% of its 458 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (25.4% fail rate), the 2009 C6 comes out 6.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.9%) and brakes (7.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, malfunction indicator lamp and service brake performance — joints alone was recorded 22 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 22.7% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 41 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.0% | 32 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.5% | 25 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 22 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 21 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.3% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 22 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 19 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 16 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 14 |
| 5 | Anti-lock braking system | 13 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 12 |
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 | 24.0% | 110 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.7% | 104 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.8% | 100 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.8% | 45 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 38 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 20 |
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 | 53 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 143 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 117 | 20.5% |
| 120-150k | 94 | 20.2% |
| 150k+ | 44 | 22.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 97 | 18.6% |
| 2022 | 113 | 21.2% |
| 2023 | 88 | 18.2% |
| 2024 | 82 | 18.3% |
| 2025 | 78 | 17.9% |
What to check before buying a 2009 C6
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.0% 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 (5.5% 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
How many 2009 Citroen C6s pass their MOT?
81.0% of the 458 2009 Citroen C6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Citroen C6?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.9% of tests, followed by brakes (7.0%).
Does the 2009 C6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 30-60k band to 22.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 458 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.