City car · 2005–2021 cars

Citroën C1 reliability

The Citroën C1 fails 29.7% of first MOT tests, 9% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 527,399 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Below averageReliability score 42/100#18 of 43 city cars

Checking a Citroën C1 before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 29.7%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 9% more; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 527,399; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 5,800; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

What this means for buyers

The Citroën C1 is a mixed buy. Its first-time MOT fail rate is 29.7%, against 28.4% for all cars. It has 9% more MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage, and ranks 18 of 43 city car models. Brakes are the weak spot, with 59% more fails than cars of the same age and mileage. 2019 cars are about average, but 2017 cars have 18% more MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage, so be cautious with those.

A C1 can still be a good buy if you check the right things. Look at the brakes first, then check that the position lamps work, the wiper blades clear the windscreen, the tyre tread is above 1.6mm and the brakes don't bind.

MOT fail rate by age

How the Citroën C1 ages

Each point is the share of Citroën C1s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Citroën C1All cars

Citroën C1 first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Citroën C1	All cars
3	9.8%	12.3%
4	12.9%	14.1%
5	15.9%	16.4%
6	18.5%	19.1%
7	21%	22.1%
8	22.9%	25.5%
9	25.6%	28.8%
10	29.6%	31.8%
11	33%	34.6%
12	36.4%	37.3%
13	39.8%	39.5%
14	43.1%	41.1%
15	45.9%	42.3%
16	47.3%	42.9%
17	48.6%	43.4%
18	50.3%	43.5%
19	48.2%	43.4%

By year

The best and worst Citroën C1 years

2019 cars come out best and 2017 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Citroën C1 MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021	431	7%	27% fewer fails	14,328
2020 C1	5,117	10.4%	5% more fails	16,961
2019 C1	12,896	10.9%	0% fewer fails	19,398
2018 C1	22,980	13.6%	11% more fails	23,145
2017 C1	29,877	17.5%	18% more fails	30,168
2016 C1	59,292	20.1%	13% more fails	38,151
2015 C1	57,553	21.6%	5% more fails	43,891
2014 C1	43,349	23.6%	1% more fails	48,408
2013 C1	44,561	28.2%	6% more fails	55,031
2012 C1	44,331	31.1%	4% more fails	61,507
2011 C1	44,484	35.5%	8% more fails	67,925
2010 C1	42,446	36.3%	3% more fails	72,159
2009 C1	39,259	42%	11% more fails	78,257
2008 C1	35,237	45.8%	15% more fails	84,686
2007 C1	26,358	45.6%	12% more fails	86,710
2006 C1	16,730	47.8%	14% more fails	91,716
2005 C1	2,498	48.3%	14% more fails	91,994

Common problems

What fails most on a Citroën C1

Its weak spot is brakes: 59% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics12.9%23% above avg
Brakes9.6%59% above avg
Tyres6.5%14% above avg
Suspension5.6%35% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors4.9%9% above avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks4.1%52% above avg
Body, chassis and structure3.7%19% above avg
Seat belts and airbags0.9%12% above avg
Steering0.4%78% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 2.91% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.63% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
3
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.52% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
4
Service brake excessively binding 2.35% of tests
A brake that drags when released can overheat, wear quickly and waste fuel, so it needs prompt inspection.
5
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 1.9% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
6
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 1.82% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
7
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.46% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
8
Exhaust has major gas leak 1.41% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Citroën C1's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit13.72%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking12.66%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy10.66%
Brake disc pitted or scored9.77%
Anti-roll bar linkage pin/bush worn6.07%
Brake pads wearing thin4.63%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Citroën C1

1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
3
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
4
Service brake excessively binding
A brake that drags when released can overheat, wear quickly and waste fuel, so it needs prompt inspection.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Citroën C1 covers about 5,800 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Petrol99.2%
Diesel0.8%
LPG0%
Electric0%

Most common colours

Red, White, Blue, Grey, Black

Average engine size: 1.0 litres.

Compare

How the Citroën C1 compares with its rivals

Citroën C1 against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Volkswagen up!	18.8%	7% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Toyota Aygo	24.5%	about average for its age
Peugeot 107	35.9%	8% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Citroën C1	29.7%	9% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Hyundai i10	26.2%	19% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford Ka	32.8%	23% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Kia Picanto	29.3%	27% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every city car ranked in the city car reliability index, or all Citroën models.

Questions

Citroën C1 questions, answered

Is the Citroën C1 reliable?

On MOT results, the Citroën C1 is below average: it fails 29.7% of first MOT tests, 9% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 18 of 43 city car models in our index.

What fails most on a Citroën C1 MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Citroën C1 are position lamp not working (2.91% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (2.63% of tests), tyre tread below 1.6mm (2.52% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 12.9% of its tests.

Which Citroën C1 year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2019 cars do best (about average for its age) and 2017 cars do worst (18% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Citroën C1 do a year?

A typical Citroën C1 covers about 5,800 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Citroën C1 before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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