2016 Citroen C1 1.0L Petrol · LS16 YRM

The Citroën C1’s most recent MOT history shows an unusual but ultimately non-critical pattern: three consecutive fails followed by a pass, all within a tight 38-day window in mid-2025, with the vehicle accumulating just 60 miles between the first fail and the final pass. The absence of any recorded defects across these tests—including the two earlier fails in 2024—suggests the failures were procedural rather than mechanical, possibly linked to administrative errors, tester discretion, or minor but non-fatal advisories that weren’t logged. The trend is stable in terms of roadworthiness, with no evidence of deteriorating mechanical issues, though the clustering of fails raises questions about consistency in testing rather than the car’s condition. The July 2025 pass at 81,843 miles confirms the vehicle met all legal standards at the time, but the buyer should treat the repeated fails as a red flag for potential undocumented advisories or tester variability. The mileage accumulation is unremarkable for a 10-year-old vehicle, averaging around 8,184 miles per year, which aligns with typical light-to-moderate usage. There are no sudden spikes or prolonged gaps that would indicate neglect or heavy use—between July 2024 and July 2025, the odometer progressed by just 7,363 miles over a year, a pace that suggests the car may have spent periods in storage or seen limited daily driving. The absence of major mileage jumps also reduces concerns about accelerated wear on high-stress components like suspension bushes, brake pads, or drivetrain seals. However, the lack of detailed MOT advisories leaves a gap in understanding whether minor wear items—such as tyres, wiper blades, or fluid levels—were consistently maintained. Given the clean but anomalous MOT record, a buyer should prioritise a thorough inspection of components prone to silent degradation or owner neglect. Check the suspension for worn bushes, sagging coil springs, or uneven tyre wear, as these often precede visible failure. Examine the brake system closely: binding calipers, uneven disc thickness, or seized handbrake mechanisms were not flagged but could explain the procedural fails if they existed at a borderline level. Structural integrity is less of a concern given the C1’s lightweight construction and the absence of corrosion advisories, but inspect for any signs of rust around wheel arches, sills, or exhaust mounts, particularly if the car was stored in damp conditions. Finally, verify all fluid levels—brake, coolant, and power steering—and confirm the battery health, as these are common areas where minor issues might not trigger MOT failures but could lead to future breakdowns.