Used car guide

2012 Citroen C1: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Citroen C1s, from 13,479 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

13,479MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
5,400typical miles a year
4.7×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Citroen C1s than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Rigid brake pipes4.7× usual
    Citroen C1
    25.6% All 2012 cars
    5.5%
    Rough price £100–£400

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes22× usual
    Citroen C1
    13.2% All 2012 cars
    0.6%
    Rough price £50–£150

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Sub-frame2.1× usual
    Citroen C1
    10.7% All 2012 cars
    5%
    Rough price £300–£1,000

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Exhaust system1.8× usual
    Citroen C1
    10% All 2012 cars
    5.5%
    Rough price £100–£500

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Braking performance1.8× usual
    Citroen C1
    8.9% All 2012 cars
    4.9%
    Rough price £100–£350

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 2% here, against 7.3% of all 2012 cars. Ball joint: 0.7% here, against 5.6% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Citroen C1 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    42% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    36% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    33% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    32% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    11% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20195,105Tyres 31%
20187,178Tyres 33%
20179,095Tyres 33%
201618,199Tyres 32%
201517,832Tyres 33%
201413,482Brakes 32%
201313,730Brakes 36%
201113,226Brakes 43%
201012,400Brakes 46%
200911,014Brakes 48%
20088,934Brakes 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Citroen C1s registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score