City car · 2003–2011 cars
Citroën C2 reliability
The Citroën C2 fails 47.7% of first MOT tests, 19% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 46,646 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Citroën C2 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 47.7%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 19% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 46,646
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 6,100
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Citroën C2 ages
Each point is the share of Citroën C2s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Citroën C2 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 48.2% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 47.9% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 47.7% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 46.6% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 46.5% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 47% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 49.8% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 49.5% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 50.4% | 42.8% |
By year
The best and worst Citroën C2 years
2007 cars come out best and 2010 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 C2 | 1,035 | 52.4% | 43% more fails | 76,527 |
| 2009 C2 | 8,333 | 48.5% | 29% more fails | 77,313 |
| 2008 C2 | 7,312 | 45.1% | 15% more fails | 79,873 |
| 2007 C2 | 8,492 | 45.9% | 14% more fails | 82,475 |
| 2006 C2 | 7,596 | 46.6% | 14% more fails | 83,442 |
| 2005 C2 | 7,465 | 49.6% | 20% more fails | 86,487 |
| 2004 C2 | 5,765 | 50.1% | 20% more fails | 86,881 |
| 2003 | 643 | 51.2% | 26% more fails | 80,946 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Citroën C2
Its weak spot is body, chassis and structure: 99% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics21.9%18% above avg
- Suspension21.8%45% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure13.6%99% above avg
- Brakes12%13% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors9.7%44% above avg
- Tyres8%20% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks5.8%2% above avg
- Seat belts and airbags3.4%76% above avg
- Steering2.3%24% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
CV joint boot split or insecure 5.61% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 2
Position lamp not working 4.94% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Stop lamp not working 4.54% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 4.37% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 5
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 4.09% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 6
Coil spring fractured or broken 3.99% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 7
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 3.97% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 8
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 3.38% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Citroën C2's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit15.62%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive13.33%
- Brake disc pitted or scored13.06%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking10.09%
- Coil spring showing some corrosion7.4%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear5.87%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Citroën C2
- 1
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 2
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.
- 3
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 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 C2 covers about 6,100 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
- Petrol85.6%
- Diesel14.4%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Black, Silver, Red, Blue, Grey
Average engine size: 1.3 litres.
Compare
How the Citroën C2 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota iQ | 23% | 29% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SEAT Mii | 21.4% | about average for its age |
| Smart Fortwo Coupe | 34.8% | about average for its age |
| Nissan Pixo | 34.5% | 11% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën C2 | 47.7% | 19% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chevrolet Spark | 44.8% | 46% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chevrolet Matiz | 49.4% | 50% 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 C2 questions, answered
Is the Citroën C2 reliable?
On MOT results, the Citroën C2 is below average: it fails 47.7% of first MOT tests, 19% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 27 of 43 city car models in our index.
What fails most on a Citroën C2 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Citroën C2 are cv joint boot split or insecure (5.61% of tests), position lamp not working (4.94% of tests), stop lamp not working (4.54% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 21.9% of its tests.
Which Citroën C2 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2007 cars do best (14% more MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2010 cars do worst (43% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Citroën C2 do a year?
A typical Citroën C2 covers about 6,100 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 C2 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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