2009 Citroen C1 MOT pass rate: 64.8% (34,846 tests)
Is the 2009 C1 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2009-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 66.7% -0.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 63.8% -2.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 63.7% -2.4 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2009 C1
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 10,943 | 29.2% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 8,162 | 21.8% |
| 3 | Suspension | 6,534 | 17.5% |
| 4 | Tyres | 3,370 | 9.0% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 3,035 | 8.1% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 2,618 | 7.0% |
All C1 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2,092 | 61.2% | -3.3 pts | 93,640 |
| 2006 | 13,522 | 60.3% | -4.1 pts | 93,582 |
| 2007 | 21,375 | 62.1% | -3.1 pts | 88,564 |
| 2008 | 29,720 | 61.6% | -3.6 pts | 87,058 |
| 2009 (this page) | 34,846 | 64.8% | -1.6 pts | 81,181 |
| 2010 | 38,421 | 69.0% | +1.7 pts | 75,897 |
| 2011 | 40,493 | 71.0% | +1.8 pts | 71,932 |
| 2012 | 40,763 | 74.4% | +3.2 pts | 65,818 |
| 2013 | 41,269 | 76.8% | +3.5 pts | 59,593 |
| 2014 | 40,186 | 80.3% | +4.5 pts | 52,872 |
| 2015 | 53,029 | 82.1% | +3.4 pts | 48,735 |
| 2016 | 53,688 | 83.3% | +2.0 pts | 42,663 |
| 2017 | 26,954 | 85.8% | +1.8 pts | 34,648 |
| 2018 | 21,190 | 88.9% | +2.5 pts | 27,802 |
| 2019 | 15,097 | 90.8% | +2.4 pts | 22,303 |
| 2020 | 9,757 | 91.7% | +1.8 pts | 17,532 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Citroen C1 years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2009 Citroen C1 reliable?
2009-registered examples passed 64.8% of their MOT tests (34,846 tests, 2023–2025), -1.6 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 17 years old with a median 81,181 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2009 C1?
The median tested example shows 81,181 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.