Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 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 2018 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 2018 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 2018 Citroen C1 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

20% 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 2018 Citroen C1 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 7,206 vehicles, the 2018 Citroen C1 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Citroen C1?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 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 2018 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 (2018)

7,206 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90.2% first-time pass rate

2018 Citroen C1

CarHunch analysed 7,206 real MOT records for the 2018 Citroen C1. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 2018 Citroën C1 passes its first MOT 10 points above the UK average at 90.2%, which is genuinely impressive for a city car of this age. However, one in five vehicles (20.4%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a meaningful concern for buyers—you'll want a pre-purchase inspection focusing on brakes, steering, and suspension.

At nearly 25,500 miles average, these cars are running low mileage for their age, suggesting light urban use and fewer hard miles on the drivetrain. The 0.66 failures per vehicle is excellent, but advisories average 5.2 per car—mainly minor wear items rather than structural problems. Before buying, request the full MOT history and get a mechanic to examine any advisory items flagged in recent tests, particularly around fluid leaks and worn components.

The 2018 Citroen C1 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (90.2%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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

90.2%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

20.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.66

Over 5.7 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

23k

Middle half: 15k–33k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 90.2% 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 5.2 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 7,206 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 7,206 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 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 7,206 Citroen C1 cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Citroen C1

Based on MOT data from 7,206 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 20.4% 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%)	7,202	90.2%	0.66

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 2018 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.

23,387

typical

15,492

low mileage

32,657

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Citroen C1 vehicles fall between 15,492 and 32,657 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 15,492 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.

✓ 15,492–32,657 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Citroen C1s sit.

⚠ Over 44,086 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Citroen C1 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Citroen C1s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 6,980 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 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.66

Avg failures per vehicle

5.2

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 2016 2017 2019 2020 2021

Or browse all models: Citroen →

Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Citroen C1 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?