2009 Citroen C1 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 79,435 MOT tests analysed for the 2009 Citroen C1, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 74.2% was in line with the average for city cars of a similar age (74.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.1% in the 150k+ group versus 15.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 11,901 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.9% | 11,066 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.4% | 5,882 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.4% | 4,318 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 3,681 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 3,409 |
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 | 7,947 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,470 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 4,279 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 4,245 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,722 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 2,578 |
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 | 38.0% | 30,213 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.8% | 22,872 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.6% | 22,716 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 9,841 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.8% | 8,573 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.9% | 5,492 |
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 | 3,507 | 15.7% |
| 30-60k | 17,732 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 30,396 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 19,856 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 6,282 | 31.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,646 | 32.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 76,674 | 25.7% |
| Diesel | 2,754 | 26.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,625 | 23.4% |
| 2022 | 16,698 | 24.9% |
| 2023 | 16,167 | 25.7% |
| 2024 | 15,585 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 14,360 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2009 C1
Before buying a 2009 Citroen C1, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 15.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (15.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.9% 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 (7.4% 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 C1s pass their MOT?
74.2% of the 79,435 2009 Citroen C1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Citroen C1?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by brakes (13.9%).
Does the 2009 C1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.7% in the 0-30k band to 32.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 79,435 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.