Diesel Citroen C1: MOT pass rate

62% of diesel Citroen C1s pass the MOT first time, measured across 1,054 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 101,349.

Diesel against the other Citroen C1 versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Citroen C1 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 75.6%, and this diesel version sits 13.5 points below the 75.5% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Citroen C1 fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Citroen C1 had covered 101,349 miles at test, against 63,498 for the petrol. That is above average and into the range where cambelts and water pumps are due if they have not already been done, so ask for the service history rather than take the mileage on trust.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Citroen C1 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Citroen C1

1. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 10.2% of tests (9.84x the national rate for this defect)
2. A wheel bearing excessively rough, 2.8% of tests (9.11x the national rate for this defect)
3. 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, 6.7% of tests (7.14x the national rate for this defect)
4. Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle., 2.5% of tests (4.84x the national rate for this defect)
5. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 5.1% of tests (4.73x the national rate for this defect)
6. Parking brake inoperative on one side, 2.5% of tests (4.24x the national rate for this defect)
7. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 8.7% of tests (3.7x the national rate for this defect)
8. A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, 3% of tests (3.35x the national rate for this defect)
9. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 5.9% of tests (2.65x the national rate for this defect)
10. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 3% of tests (2.3x the national rate for this defect)

From 1,068 DVSA-tracked diesel Citroen C1 tests, 2024, split out from the Citroen C1's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4.66% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Citroen C1

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. 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, 9.4% of tests (6.17x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 5.7% of tests (5.35x the national rate for this defect)
3. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 10.1% of tests (5.06x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 29.4% of tests (4.75x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 4.2% of tests (3.39x the national rate for this defect)
6. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 18.8% of tests (3.38x the national rate for this defect)
7. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 13.2% of tests (2.55x the national rate for this defect)
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 33.3% of tests (2.49x the national rate for this defect)
9. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 11% of tests (2.32x the national rate for this defect)
10. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 5.5% of tests (1.94x the national rate for this defect)

From 1,068 DVSA-tracked diesel Citroen C1 tests, 2024.

Other Citroen C1 fuel types

• Petrol Citroen C1 - 75.6%

All Citroen C1 MOT data · Every model