Performance by cohort

3 year bands · 276,634 tests

Pass rate climbs 22.6 points across the cohorts — newer C1 examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.

Pre-2018 cohort 256,610

Pass

73.2%

Fail

20.6%

PRS

5.6%

Avg mileage at test

67,564 mi

2018–2020 cohort 19,015

Pass

88.4%

Fail

8.3%

PRS

2.9%

Avg mileage at test

25,927 mi

2021+ cohort 1,009

Pass

95.7%

Fail

3.2%

PRS

1.1%

Avg mileage at test

14,785 mi

Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.

Generations on file · 2

Citroen C1 · UK market

Photos: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA / CC BY / public domain.

The picture

75.3% pass rate — brake pipes are the hidden risk

Rear number plate lamps and tyre tread are predictable MOT failures, but the Citroen C1's third most common reason for failing is corroded brake pipes — a structural concern that goes well beyond a quick bulb swap. Across 204,200 tests at an average of 60,182 miles, the 75.3% pass rate is acceptable for the city car class, but the brake pipe finding demands attention from any owner of an older example.

Owner reports are thin but pointed. Clutch failure at just 8,000 miles on a used 2016 C1 — with a complaint already on record at 5,000 — ended with a £1,400 quote and a dealer who'd previously told the owner to come back later. MirrorLink incompatibility with iPhone models beyond the 4S illustrates how quickly the tech dated. The C1 is a simple car and usually a cheap one to run, but brake pipe corrosion at MOT time can turn a routine pass into an immediate fail with advisory costs attached.

ABI Insurance Group

Group 2–7

A low-group car — among the cheapest to insure in the UK. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.

Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →

2–7

out of 50

Compare quotes →

Top ten reasons for rejection.

Filter failures:

Hide wear items to see the model's real defects.

01

A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources

9,556 occurrences · 3.5% of tests
02

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

6,147 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
03

Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake

5,796 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
04

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded

5,694 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
05

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

4,628 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
06

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

4,609 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
07

Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective

4,530 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
08

The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

3,828 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
09

Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen

3,555 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
10

Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer

3,411 occurrences · 1.2% of tests

Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.

Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures

£108–£220

If every one of this C1's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →

Try the calculator

Build your own retest budget.

Year-band analysis

Best year to buy. Worst to avoid.

First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 22.6-point gap between bands means the year you buy Citroen C1 has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.

Best band to buy

95.7%

2021+ registration

the 2021-on band climbs to 95.7% — a 22.6-point improvement. Tests in this band average 14,785 miles — roughly 53K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: blade defective, has a cut in excess of the… — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. Post-2020 examples are early in their MOT life and generally show the cleanest records.

Band to be cautious about

73.2%

Pre-2018 registration

On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 73.2% pass rate against a fleet average of 95.7% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: inoperative in the case of multiple lamps…, tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and excessively binding. Average mileage on test for this band is 67,564 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme. Honest John records: "MirrorLink system is not compatible with iPhones beyond the iPhone 4S, so not compatible with iPhone 5, 5S or 6. A software patch is being worked on but is not…"

Best band to buy: 2021+ (95.7% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (73.2% pass). That's a 22.6-point spread across 256,610 older tests and 1,009 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.

Year-spread leaderboard →

Tools that pre-empt a retest.

Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.

Item 01 · Amazon UK

H7 / W21W bulb pack

A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.

Search Amazon UK

Item 02 · Amazon UK

Digital tyre-tread depth gauge

Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.

Search Amazon UK

My Motor World · affiliate

Parts & supplies for this fix

Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.

Summit

Summit ADRG-169 Citroen Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS

£9.89

View at My Motor World →

Summit

Summit ADRG-170 Citroen Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS

£9.89

View at My Motor World →

Summit

Summit ADRG-48 Citroen Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS

£9.89

View at My Motor World →

Summit

Summit ADRG-49 Citroen Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS

£9.89

View at My Motor World →

Click Mechanic · affiliate

Book a mobile mechanic

Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.

Mobile mechanic · UK-wide

Book a mechanic at your door.

Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.

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Owner reports · Honest John

What owners actually report.

Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.

Where it falls short

Owner reports (2 entries) flag recurring problems with gearbox/clutch.

Recent owner-reported faults

15 Jul 2019
Report of clutch failure of 2016 Citroen C1, bought used at 5,000 miles in March 2018 and failure occurred at 8,000 miles in July 2019. Owner had already complained about it to supplying dealer in February 2019 and was told to brng it back later in the year. Now quoting £1,400 ro replace the clutch. Google Pixel 10 Pro 128GB In Moonstone | Verizon (With 36 Monthly Installment Payments + Plan)Meet the new status pro. Pixel 10 Pro is the ultimate Pixel experience, featuring advanced AI with Gemini, unbelievable camera quality, i...Verizon Wireless Friday: IRS Forgives Millions Before April 30th Cutoff As the tax relief deadline nears, thousands of Americans are rushing to resolve their tax debts before the IRS imposes hefty penalties.Fresh Start Information Learn More Ask a Pro: "I'm 65 With $1.1M In An IRA. What's My Retirement Budget?"This quiz matches nearly 50,000 people each month with vetted financial advisors.SmartAsset Learn More Top 5 Mouse Repellents for 2026 Expert Product Review Learn More North Charleston: AudioNova is giving free 30-minute hearing checks complete this short quiz to schedule your free hearing test AudioNova Sleep Experts: Why Melatonin Can Make Your Sleep Problems Worse!Health Report Sponsored How US Navy Submarine Cooks Keep Their Produce Fresh For 5x Longer Consumer Check Sponsored What Plumbers Won’t Tell You: The Cheap Hack for Clear Drains Trending Deal Journal [![Image 30: Find Senior Women Who Bring The Spark [See Who's Online]](https://images.outbrainimg.com/transform/v3/eyJpdSI6ImVlOTM0MDUyOTFmNjNiZDg0YzZiYmJiOTZmMTU2OTdkMjM2NjdkY2QxMzFiZjQ5YmVhYmE3NTg4MjQ2NDcwZmIiLCJ3Ijo0MDAsImgiOjMwMCwiZCI6MS4wLCJjaCI6MTcwNzk5NjgwNiwiY3MiOjAsImYiOjR9.webp)Sponsored Find Senior Women Who Bring The Spark [See Who's Online]It all starts with a message.amorelation.com Read more](https://amorelation.com/land/sp/17f2ebbb?utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=ua&utm_campaign=OBN_Amorelation_USA_All_Native_EU2_NewU_aOBX25_WL-exclude2_Creo-t_Text-t_mua_20Apr&campaign_id=004aea76c4e6e4694169bd0cc89a5ab731&utm_content=Find+Senior+Women+Who+Bring+The+Spark+%5BSee+Who%27s+Online%5D&partner=outbrain_datingsmatch&OutbrainClickId={{ob_click_id}}&subid={{ob_click_id}}&ad_id=00a6ec82b0a80be32da728c53c4e0bb954&publisher_name={{publisher_name}}&section_name={{section_name}}&publisher_id={{publisher_id}}&ad_name={{ad_name}}&obOrigUrl=true) Sponsored With Tariffs Dominating DC, IRS Quietly Forgiving Millions in South Carolina Tax Debt As the tax forgiveness deadline nears, thousands of Americans are rushing to resolve their tax debts before the IRS imposes hefty penalties.freshstartinfo.org Learn More Sponsored Top 5 Binoculars for 2026 Expert Product Review Learn More * Terms and Conditions * Privacy * Cookies * Advertise on this site * Contact * Mobile) Website of the Year 2016, 2017 & 2018
5 Sep 2015
MirrorLink system is not compatible with iPhones beyond the iPhone 4S, so not compatible with iPhone 5, 5S or 6. A software patch is being worked on but is not yet available.

Source: honestjohn.co.uk · 2 reports indexed

Recall history

12 UK recalls on record.

The C1 has 12 official UK vehicle recalls covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.

See all recalls

Buying or keeping a C1?

Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.

If you own a C1 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.