Citroen C1 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Citroen C1 car check
Is the Citroen C1 reliable? We analysed 2,448,436 real MOT tests across 189,733 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Citroen C1? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Citroen C1 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, registration plate lamp not working and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Citroen C1.
Citroen C1 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Citroen C1. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Citroen C1 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Citroen C1 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Citroen C1 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Citroen C1 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Citroen C1 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Citroen C1 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Citroen C1 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Citroen C1 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Citroen C1 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Citroen C1 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,585 | 93.1% | 11,044 | 16,895 | 23,954 |
| 2020 | 12,402 | 89.8% | 11,746 | 18,752 | 28,010 |
| 2019 | 25,191 | 89.3% | 12,568 | 20,589 | 31,276 |
| 2018 | 43,577 | 88.5% | 14,312 | 23,341 | 35,489 |
| 2017 | 69,925 | 86.5% | 17,601 | 27,766 | 41,474 |
| 2016 | 158,135 | 84.5% | 21,921 | 33,063 | 47,861 |
| 2015 | 178,686 | 84.1% | 23,414 | 36,013 | 52,499 |
| 2014 | 154,394 | 83.0% | 24,572 | 38,297 | 55,963 |
| 2013 | 183,056 | 80.6% | 27,292 | 42,740 | 62,316 |
| 2012 | 202,541 | 79.4% | 29,652 | 46,294 | 66,812 |
| 2011 | 227,666 | 77.8% | 32,434 | 50,746 | 72,625 |
| 2010 | 237,272 | 77.8% | 32,488 | 52,287 | 75,216 |
| 2009 | 251,779 | 75.5% | 34,407 | 55,712 | 80,145 |
| 2008 | 262,891 | 73.5% | 37,798 | 59,859 | 84,259 |
| 2007 | 225,862 | 74.0% | 37,016 | 60,138 | 85,339 |
| 2006 | 173,995 | 72.8% | 38,995 | 63,048 | 88,780 |
| 2005 | 29,831 | 72.0% | 38,063 | 62,298 | 88,569 |
How Long Does a Citroen C1 Last?
Based on 189,733 Citroen C1 vehicles on UK roads.
Citroen C1 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Citroen C1 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Citroen C1
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
93.1% MOT pass rate from 1,585 tests
72.0% MOT pass rate from 29,831 tests
The best year to buy a used Citroen C1 is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.1% across 1,585 tests. The 2005 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Citroen C1 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citroen C1 THIS CAR | 78.5% | 2,448,436 | 46,999 mi | 21 yrs |
| Citroen Xsara | 69.1% | 5,047,330 | 77,497 mi | 28 yrs |
| Citroen Berlingo | 70.1% | 4,453,235 | 83,738 mi | 29 yrs |
| Citroen C3 | 72.7% | 4,435,918 | 53,913 mi | 24 yrs |
| Skoda Superb | 80.9% | 755,475 | 79,433 mi | 24 yrs |
Compared to the Citroen Xsara (69.1% pass rate) and the Citroen Berlingo (70.1% pass rate), the Citroen C1 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Citroen C1 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Citroen C1Should you buy a used Citroen C1?
The Citroen C1 has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.5% across 2,448,436 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Citroen C1 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (31,976 recorded failures), registration plate lamp not working (14,045), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (13,225). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Citroen C1 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Citroen C1 owner drives around 4,548 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Citroen C1 models stay on UK roads for around 21 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.