2012 Citroen C1 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 84,770 MOT tests analysed for the 2012 Citroen C1, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres. Its pass rate of 80.8% was above the average for city cars of a similar age (79.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 28.3% in the 150k+ group versus 12.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 11,057 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.2% | 6,075 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.0% | 4,255 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 3,143 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.7% | 3,129 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 2,517 |
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 | 4,393 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,349 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 3,071 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,766 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 2,162 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 2,018 |
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 | 33.9% | 28,693 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.0% | 23,761 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.4% | 19,790 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 7,629 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 5,946 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.2% | 4,410 |
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 | 6,493 | 12.1% |
| 30-60k | 33,396 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 31,592 | 21.0% |
| 90-120k | 10,598 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 2,154 | 26.9% |
| 150k+ | 522 | 28.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 84,732 | 19.3% |
| Diesel | 38 | 15.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,768 | 16.3% |
| 2022 | 16,932 | 17.6% |
| 2023 | 17,109 | 19.0% |
| 2024 | 17,187 | 21.2% |
| 2025 | 16,774 | 22.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 C1
Before buying a 2012 Citroen C1, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 13.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (13.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.2% 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.
- Tyres (5.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2012 Citroen C1s pass their MOT?
80.8% of the 84,770 2012 Citroen C1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Citroen C1?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by brakes (7.2%).
Does the 2012 C1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.1% in the 0-30k band to 28.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 84,770 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.