2006 Citroen C1 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 34,401 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Citroen C1, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 70.8% was in line with the average for city cars of a similar age (70.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 34.3% in the 150k+ group versus 15.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.3% | 7,321 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.7% | 4,021 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.1% | 3,476 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.6% | 2,631 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 2,301 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.1% | 2,094 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 4,238 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 2,549 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 2,315 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 2,136 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 2,045 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 2,034 |
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 | 37.3% | 12,816 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.8% | 12,321 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.9% | 10,300 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.9% | 7,525 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.2% | 4,882 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.1% | 2,449 |
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 | 679 | 15.8% |
| 30-60k | 4,682 | 22.5% |
| 60-90k | 11,212 | 28.5% |
| 90-120k | 11,734 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 4,706 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,380 | 34.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 32,769 | 29.1% |
| Diesel | 1,632 | 29.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,474 | 28.0% |
| 2022 | 7,749 | 28.6% |
| 2023 | 6,978 | 29.4% |
| 2024 | 6,080 | 30.3% |
| 2025 | 5,120 | 30.3% |
What to check before buying a 2006 C1
Before buying a 2006 Citroen C1, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 21.3% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (21.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.7% 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 (10.1% 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.
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 2006 Citroen C1s pass their MOT?
70.8% of the 34,401 2006 Citroen C1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Citroen C1?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.3% of tests, followed by brakes (11.7%).
Does the 2006 C1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 0-30k band to 34.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 34,401 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.