2008 Citroen C1 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 71,125 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Citroen C1, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 71.9% was in line with the average for city cars of a similar age (72.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 34.0% in the 150k+ group versus 15.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 11,702 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.8% | 9,824 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.8% | 6,959 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 4,849 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 4,233 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.9% | 4,214 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 6,353 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,678 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 4,455 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 4,053 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 3,617 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,530 |
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 | 38.2% | 27,172 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.6% | 23,886 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.6% | 20,373 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 10,079 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.7% | 8,347 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 5,242 |
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 | 1,855 | 15.0% |
| 30-60k | 12,119 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 27,099 | 27.3% |
| 90-120k | 21,275 | 31.0% |
| 120-150k | 6,991 | 33.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,760 | 34.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 70,093 | 28.1% |
| Diesel | 1,032 | 26.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,933 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 15,400 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 14,629 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 13,410 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 11,753 | 29.9% |
What to check before buying a 2008 C1
Before buying a 2008 Citroen C1, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 16.4% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.8% 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 (9.8% 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 C1s pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 71,125 2008 Citroen C1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Citroen C1?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by brakes (13.8%).
Does the 2008 C1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.0% in the 0-30k band to 34.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 71,125 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.