Model Reports 8 min read Updated 12 Jul 2026

Citroen C1 2013: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2013 Citroen C1 include Hazard warning — Switch (~21.4× peers) and Linkage pins and bushes (front) (~19.5× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (4,305 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

4,305 failed first-attempt tests · 13,273 first tests (test year 2025)

Standout pattern: Hazard warning — Switch — about 21.4× more often than on similar peer cars.

Key takeaways before you buy

  • Hazard warning — Switch: about 21.4× more often than similar cars
  • Linkage pins and bushes (front): about 19.5× more often than similar cars
  • Component mounting prescribed areas (rear): about 8.3× more often than similar cars

Common faults

These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).

Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.

Based on 4,305 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Hazard warning — Switch

This failure pattern appears about 21.4× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 274 failed first-attempt tests; 6.4% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 274 failures · ×21.4 vs similar cars · 6.4% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Linkage pins and bushes (front)

This failure pattern appears about 19.5× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 139 failed first-attempt tests; 3.2% of failed tests for this model year.

Front · 139 failures · ×19.5 vs similar cars · 3.2% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Component mounting prescribed areas (rear)

This failure pattern appears about 8.3× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 120 failed first-attempt tests; 2.8% of failed tests for this model year.

Rear · 120 failures · ×8.3 vs similar cars · 2.8% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

# Fault pattern Location Failures vs similar cars Share of fails Confidence
1 Hazard warning — Switch
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Hazard warning > Switch
 Any 274 ×21.4 6.4% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
2 Linkage pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage pins and bushes
 Front 139 ×19.5 3.2% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
3 Component mounting prescribed areas (rear)
Suspension > Component mounting prescribed areas
 Rear 120 ×8.3 2.8% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
4 Wheel bearings (rear)
Suspension > Wheel bearings
 Rear 128 ×6.5 3.0% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
5 Rear fog lamp
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Front and rear fog lamps > Rear fog lamp > Rear fog lamp
 Any 193 ×4.5 4.5% Likely common fault pattern
6 Rear fog lamp (rear)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Front and rear fog lamps > Rear fog lamp > Rear fog lamp
 Rear 97 ×3.7 2.3% Likely common fault pattern
7 Rigid brake pipes (rear)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
 Rear 181 ×3.6 4.2% Likely common fault pattern
8 Wheel bearings (front)
Suspension > Wheel bearings
 Front 114 ×3.5 2.6% Likely common fault pattern
9 Exhaust system (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
 Rear 158 ×3.4 3.7% Likely common fault pattern
10 Emissions not tested
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Spark ignition > Emissions not tested
 Any 116 ×2.8 2.7% Possible elevated fault

Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).

Advisories

Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.

# Advisory pattern Location Notes vs similar cars Share Confidence
1 Linkage pins and bushes
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage pins and bushes
 Any 21 ×32.8 0.5% Elevated vs peers
2 Linkage pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage pins and bushes
 Front 498 ×32.0 11.6% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
3 Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes
 Front 95 ×11.1 2.2% Possible elevated fault
4 Component mounting prescribed areas (rear)
Suspension > Component mounting prescribed areas
 Rear 129 ×6.9 3.0% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
5 Individual direction indicators (front)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Individual direction indicators
 Front 127 ×6.0 3.0% Likely common fault pattern
6 Road Wheels — Condition (front)
Road Wheels > Condition
 Front 220 ×5.8 5.1% Likely common fault pattern
7 Component mounting prescribed areas
Suspension > Component mounting prescribed areas
 Any 22 ×5.3 0.5% Elevated vs peers
8 Rigid brake pipes (rear)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
 Rear 681 ×4.7 15.8% Likely common fault pattern

FAQs

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2013 Citroen C1 on this page. Among 4,305 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Hazard warning — Switch appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 21.4× more often than peers; 274 observed failures; 6.4% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.
Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Hazard warning — Switch (about 21.4× more often than peers; 274 observed failures; 6.4% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Hazard warning — Switch shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 21.4× more often than peers; 274 observed failures; 6.4% of failed tests). That does not prove a causal design fault — age, mileage, and usage still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer TSB.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2013 Citroen C1 include Hazard warning — Switch, Linkage pins and bushes (front), Component mounting prescribed areas (rear). These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.
Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that look elevated versus peers among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.
This page highlights elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2013 Citroen C1 (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are ranked against similar age and mileage peers. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer TSB list.
No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.
PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

About this data

Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.

PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).

Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.

Limitations.

  • MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
  • Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
  • Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
  • Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.

Display rules config: 1

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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See brand-wide MOT rankings and year guidance for Citroen (separate from this model-year report).