2006 Citroen C1 MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 51.7% of Citroen C1s first used in 2006 passed their MOT first time, against 57.0% for all cars first used in 2006. Across 13,659 C1 first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, brakes and suspension.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Citroen C1s first used in 2006 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
51.7%
of 3,873 first tests; all cars first used in 2006: 57.0%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
13,659
first tests, 2023–2025; 3,873 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
15.7%
of 3,873 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
95,500
middle half: 74,000–116,500 miles; all cars first used in 2006: 106,500

How the 2006 Citroen C1 MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, C1s first used in 2006 against all cars first used in 2006 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the C1 figure was 5.3 points lower.

2006 C1All cars first used in 2006
50%60%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2006, test year 2021: 55.5%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2022: 56%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2023: 56.2%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2024: 56.1%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2025: 57%2006 C1, test year 2021: 53.9%2006 C1, test year 2022: 53.2%2006 C1, test year 2023: 52.3%2006 C1, test year 2024: 50.8%2006 C1, test year 2025: 51.7%57%51.7%
View this chart as a table
Test year2006 C1All cars first used 2006C1 first tests
202153.9%55.5%6,385
202253.2%56.0%5,848
202352.3%56.2%5,221
202450.8%56.1%4,565
202551.7%57.0%3,873

Common 2006 Citroen C1 MOT failures

Share of the 6,604 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment59.4%
Brakes32.6%
Suspension31.1%
Noise, emissions and leaks22.0%
Body, chassis, structure19.4%
Tyres16.4%
Visibility12.8%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems7.7%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect19.0%1,254
Position lamp: not working15.3%1,010
Service brake performance: excessively binding10.7%704
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength10.4%686
Stop lamp: not working9.0%592

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a C1 in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Service brake performance: excessively bindingBrake caliper repair£180£150–£220

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2006 Citroen C1 before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
  3. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.

Common 2006 Citroen C1 MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2006 C1s, as a share of all 13,659 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material20.9%2,855
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge18.4%2,512
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing13.6%1,861
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened11.3%1,545
Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement11.0%1,506

Questions about the 2006 Citroen C1 MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2006 Citroen C1?

In 2025, 51.7% of C1s first used in 2006 passed their MOT first time, against 57.0% for all cars first used in 2006. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2006 C1 most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 59.4% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), brakes (32.6%) and suspension (31.1%). The single most common item was “Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect” (19.0%).

How often does a 2006 Citroen C1 fail its MOT?

In 2025, 48.3% of first tests on C1s first used in 2006 did not pass first time: 39.8% failed, and a further 8.5% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 6,604 of 13,659 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2006 Citroen C1 MOT advisories?

“Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (on 20.9% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (18.4%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (13.6%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (11.3%) and “Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (11.0%).

Is a 2006 Citroen C1 reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 53.9% in 2021 to 51.7% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2006

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2006 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2006 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2006 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2006 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics · 2006 MINI Hatch MOT statistics

How the 2006 Citroen C1 MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2006 C1” means a Citroen C1 whose date of first use falls in 2006 (55, 06 and 56 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2006, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.