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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2013 Citroen C1 MOT fail rate and common faults

How Citroen C1 cars first used in 2013 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 56,363 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 12 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 12 (n=13,787)32.1%
All cars at 12 years (n=7,303,151)36.0%
Difference−3.9 pts
MOT tests of 2013 cars, 2022 to 202556,363

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 12 years old, Citroen C1 cars first used in 2013 failed 32.1% of MOTs (13,787 tests), 3.9 points below the 36.0% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 9 to 12 years old, the fail rate moved from 25.3% to 32.1%.
  • Citroen C1 cars first used a year earlier, in 2012, failed 34.1% at the same age of 12 years (13,917 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Citroen C1 at 12 years, is rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded, at 3.2 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 0.8).

MOT fail rate by test year

Citroen C1 cars first used in 2013: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
20229 years25.3%14,31227.1%−1.8 pts
202310 years27.5%14,18130.3%−2.8 pts
202411 years31.2%14,08333.3%−2.1 pts
202512 years32.1%13,78736.0%−3.9 pts

Most common faults at 12 years

These figures cover all Citroen C1 MOTs at 12 years: cars first used 2010 to 2013, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=55,568). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Side/position light not working Wear4.14.1
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.20.8
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear3.01.5
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear2.92.9
Wipers not clearing screen Wear2.62.0
Service brake performance: excessively binding2.40.9
Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits2.00.6
Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases1.91.0
Hazard warning switch: inoperative1.80.1
Rear fog lamp: not working Wear1.70.5

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=55,568). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material19.44.5
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear16.118.0
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear13.28.9
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened10.510.4
Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement8.50.4
Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement6.47.3
Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened5.73.0
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear4.94.6
Brake pads wearing thin Wear4.87.6
Road wheel condition: slightly distorted4.21.1

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=55,568). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 12 years

These figures cover all Citroen C1 MOTs at 12 years: cars first used 2010 to 2013, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=55,568). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Petrol99.7%33.8%55,41635.3%66,419 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 12 years

These figures cover all Citroen C1 MOTs at 12 years: cars first used 2010 to 2013, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=55,568). At 12 years, Citroen C1 cars at 120,000 to 150,000 miles failed more often (45.8%, n=1,828) than those at under 30,000 miles (18.7%, n=3,495). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Under 30,000 miles18.7%3,49517.5%
30,000 to 60,000 miles27.0%18,72727.7%
60,000 to 90,000 miles36.8%22,16036.2%
90,000 to 120,000 miles44.0%8,71540.2%
120,000 to 150,000 miles45.8%1,82841.2%

Car tax rules for a 2013 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Citroen C1

Other Citroen models first used in 2013

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Citroen C3 (2013)12 years in 202541.5%13,16736.0%
Citroen C4 (2013)12 years in 202545.5%11,47636.0%
Citroen Dispatch (2013)12 years in 202546.5%2,35936.0%
Citroen Nemo (2013)12 years in 202540.4%1,24736.0%

More on the Citroen C1

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2013 Citroen C1 cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.