Used car guide

2009 Citroen C2: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2009 Citroen C2s, from 1,747 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,747MOT tests in 2025

50%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%)

5,000typical miles a year

1.9×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2009 Citroen C2s than on all cars registered in 2009.

Engine oil leaks1.9× usual

Citroen C2
20.1% All 2009 cars
10.4%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.3% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.
Drive shaft (CV) joints2.4× usual

Citroen C2
12.5% All 2009 cars
5.3%

Failed outright at MOT: 7.6%, against 2.4% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.
Exhaust system1.8× usual

Citroen C2
14.8% All 2009 cars
8.4%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 2.2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.
Individual direction indicators2.8× usual

Citroen C2
8.1% All 2009 cars
2.9%

Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 1.2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
Brake lights1.9× usual

Citroen C2
10.4% All 2009 cars
5.4%

Failed outright at MOT: 10.1%, against 4.3% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Track rod ends: 1.5% here, against 5.4% of all 2009 cars.

By area

The share of 2009 Citroen C2 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Suspension

47% 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.
Lights and electrics

41% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

37% 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.
Brakes

33% 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.
Oil and fluid leaks

21% of testsRough price £80–£600

At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.
Exhaust and emissions

17% 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.

Looking at a Citroen C2?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2008	1,358	Suspension 46%
2007	1,505	Suspension 46%
2006	1,208	Suspension 49%
2005	1,205	Suspension 52%
2004	913	Suspension 47%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2009 Citroen C2s registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score