2025 MOT results
Citroën C2 common problems
The most common reason a Citroën C2 fails its MOT is structural corrosion, on 12.9% of its 3,869 failed tests in 2025. Against other cars of the same age, 4 faults stand out, the widest gaps being: structural corrosion at 12.9% of failures against 4.5% expected; a split joint boot at 12.0% of failures against 6.7% expected; wiper blades that do not clear the screen at 10.1% of failures against 6.0% expected.
- Tests in 2025 8,207 Cars aged three and over
- Failed first time 47.1% 3,869 tests
- Found a dangerous defect 9.9% Unsafe to drive away
- Ended with an advisory 69.8% A problem to watch, not a failure
What fails a Citroën C2 MOT
Each bar is the share of failed Citroën C2 tests with that defect. Where we can compare it with cars of the same registration years, the marker shows what an average car of those ages records (12 of the 12 items below).
Most common reasons for failure
A test can fail for more than one defect, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Suspension | 12.9% |
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 12.0% |
| Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 11.3% |
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.8% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 10.1% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension | 8.6% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension | 8.4% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.8% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 6.5% |
| Linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Suspension | 6.2% |
| Exhaust system: major leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 5.7% |
| Service brake performance: excessively binding Brakes | 5.5% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
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Structural corrosion
12.9% of failures 4.5% expected 2.9 times as often
Corrosion in a structural area near a suspension, steering or seat belt mounting, which is a serious failure.
Look at the inner sills, rear spring seats and subframe mounts on cars over about 12 years old.
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Split joint boot
12.0% of failures 6.7% expected 1.8 times as often
A split rubber boot on a joint or driveshaft. The joint may still be sound, but dirt and water get in once the boot is open.
Turn the wheels to full lock and look behind them for greasy splits in the rubber concertina.
-
Brake light out
11.3% of failures 9.3% expected somewhat more often
A brake light not working, from a bulb, a poor earth, or the switch on the pedal.
Reverse up to a wall or window at dusk and press the pedal to see all three lamps light.
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Sidelight out
10.8% of failures 13.6% expected somewhat less often
A sidelight, also called a position lamp, not working. It marks the width of the car at night.
Walk round the car with the lights on and the hazards going; these are the cheapest failures to avoid.
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Wiper blades that do not clear the screen
10.1% of failures 6.0% expected 1.7 times as often
Wiper blades that leave the windscreen smeared or streaked across the area the driver looks through.
Look for split or hardened rubber, and lift each blade to see whether it still sits flat.
-
Worn steering or suspension joint
8.6% of failures 5.7% expected 1.5 times as often
Play in a steering or suspension joint, where a worn ball and socket lets the wheel move where it should not.
A knock at low speed over rough ground, or vague steering, is the usual warning.
Which parts of the car fail
Suspension is the area that most often fails a Citroën C2, on 47.9% of failed tests. The widest gap against cars of the same registration years is body, chassis, structure, on 28.7% against 17.7% expected.
Failure categories
DVSA's own sections of the test. The marker is what cars of the same registration years record.
| Defect category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 47.9% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 46.4% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 28.7% |
| Brakes | 22.6% |
| Visibility | 19.7% |
| Tyres | 15.5% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 12.4% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 6.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What testers warn about
69.8% of Citroën C2 tests ended with at least one advisory: a fault the tester found that did not fail the test. On Citroën C2s, these are the items to ask about on a car you are viewing, because they are what the last tester expected to go next.
Most common advisories
Share of all tests, passes included.
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 19.6% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 17.1% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 14.4% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 13.1% |
| Coil spring: corroded Suspension | 9.8% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 7.6% |
| Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 6.9% |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle | 6.8% |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension | 5.7% |
| Service brake performance: binding but not excessively Brakes | 5.2% |
| Component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Suspension | 5.1% |
| Shock absorbers: light misting of oil Suspension | 4.7% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Citroën C2 problems: common questions
What is the most common problem with a Citroën C2?
Of the faults that fail an MOT, “Component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength” is the most common: it appears on 12.9% of failed Citroën C2 tests. Across categories, suspension is the area that most often fails one, on 47.9% of failed tests.
How often does a Citroën C2 fail its MOT?
47.1% of Citroën C2 tests in 2025 were not passed first time, from 8,207 tests of cars aged three and over. Allowing for the age and mileage of the cars tested, that gives it a UK Motoring Reliability Score of 42 out of 100, where 50 is as expected.
Does anything fail more often on a Citroën C2 than on other cars?
Yes. “Component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength” appears on 12.9% of its failures against 4.5% for cars of the same age, and “Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” appears on 12.0% of its failures against 6.7% for cars of the same age. Where an item is missing from the national figures for a year, we use the smallest share those figures show, so the comparison never overstates the difference.
Are these the same as breakdowns or known faults?
No. These are the items a tester recorded at the MOT, which covers condition and safety: lamps, brakes, tyres, suspension, corrosion and emissions. A gearbox that is unpleasant, an infotainment screen that has died, or a car that will not start on a cold morning are not part of the test, so they are not in these figures.
Where do the figures come from?
Every normal MOT test of a Citroën C2 aged three and over in Great Britain in 2025, from DVSA's anonymised MOT results. Retests are excluded, and the same fault on more than one wheel counts once.
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT defects and advisories | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 8,207 MOT tests | 19 September 2026 |
- Shares for defects are of failed tests; shares for advisories are of all tests. A test can carry several defects, so shares add to more than 100%.
- The expected share is what an average car of the same registration years records, weighted by where this model’s failures fall. Where an item is outside the national figures for a year, the smallest share those figures show is used in its place, which is an upper bound, so the comparison never overstates a model’s problems. No expectation is published where less than 80% of the model’s failures can be compared.
- Great Britain only: DVSA does not run MOT testing in Northern Ireland. Cars under three years old are not tested.
- The descriptions of what each part does are general and the same on every model. Every figure comes from the MOT data.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.