Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Citroen C1?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2016 Citroen C1?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2016 Citroen C1?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2016 Citroen C1 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

33% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2016 Citroen C1 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 18,376 vehicles, the 2016 Citroen C1 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 86.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Citroen C1?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Citroen C1 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (45.2% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (43.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (42.3% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2016 Citroen C1?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Citroen C1 (2016)

18,376 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86.3% first-time pass rate

2016 Citroen C1

CarHunch analysed 18,376 real MOT records for the 2016 Citroen C1. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 Citroën C1 passes its MOT first time in 86.3% of cases, which is a solid 6.3 percentage points above the UK average—but the concerning figure here is that nearly one in three (32.9%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above acceptable levels for a buyer considering one. This suggests mechanical issues that pose genuine safety risks rather than minor wear.

At 33,328 miles median, these cars have covered relatively modest distances for their age, yet they're averaging 1.26 failures and 9.1 advisories per test, indicating that even low-mileage examples are picking up problems. Before purchasing, have a pre-sale inspection focus specifically on the brake system, suspension, and steering components—the areas where dangerous defects typically emerge on this model.

The 2016 Citroen C1 has a decent first-time pass rate (86.3%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

86.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

32.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.26

Over 8.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

33k

Middle half: 24k–44k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 86.3% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 9.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 18,376 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 18,376 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 45.2%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 31.4%

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 13.8%

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Wipers & washers 10.1%

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Other issues 8.1%

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 18,376 Citroen C1 cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Citroen C1

Based on MOT data from 18,376 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 32.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	18,374	86.3%	1.26

Colour Breakdown

Based on 187,885 Citroen C1 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 27.6%

51,926

Grey 18.4%

34,629

White 18.2%

34,105

Blue 17.9%

33,573

Black 14.3%

26,856

Green 1.2%

2,242

Orange 1%

1,826

Yellow 0.8%

1,488

Silver 0.4%

765

Beige 0.2%

376

Turquoise 0%

Pink 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Citroen C1 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

33,328

typical

24,478

low mileage

43,932

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Citroen C1 vehicles fall between 24,478 and 43,932 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 24,478 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 24,478–43,932 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Citroen C1s sit.

⚠ Over 59,308 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Citroen C1 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Citroen C1s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 17,498 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

8.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.26

Avg failures per vehicle

9.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Citroen C1: All C1 years → Which year to buy? →

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Or browse all models: Citroen →

Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Citroen C1 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing