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Citroën 2CV reliability

D · Below average

MOT pass rates and common problems from 21,199 MOT tests of cars first registered 1984–1990.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
69.0%pass first time
−3.5 ptsvs typical car
Beats 29%of cars
21,199MOT tests

Verdict

The Citroën 2CV passes its MOT first time on 69.0% of tests, 3.5 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (72.5%). That puts it ahead of 29% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 1985 2CV does best (beats 36% of cars) and the 1984 worst (beats 20%).

Better than average on brakes, steering.

Watch these weak spots

Lights & electrics1.4×as often as a typical car
Seat belts & airbags2.2×as often as a typical car
Rear fog light2.1×as often as a typical car
Headlight aim1.5×as often as a typical car

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

1984
Beats 20%
1985
Beats 36%
1986
Beats 31%
1987
Beats 26%
1988
Beats 32%
1989
Beats 31%
1990
Beats 23%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
0.6 Petrol1984–199021,19969.0%Beats 29%D

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 5.8% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 5.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 8.3% of tests fail on suspension, against 7.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 20.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 15.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 2.5% of tests fail on tyres, against 2.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 7.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 9.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 20.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 15.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights−5.4 ptsTyres: 2.5% of tests fail on tyres, against 2.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.4 ptsBrakes: 7.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 9.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+2.4 ptsSuspension: 8.3% of tests fail on suspension, against 7.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−0.5 ptsExhaust: 5.8% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 5.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust−0.4 ptsSuspension: 8.3% of tests fail on suspension, against 7.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 7.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 9.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 2.5% of tests fail on tyres, against 2.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 20.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 15.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 5.8% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 5.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 20.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 15.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights−5.4 ptsTyres: 2.5% of tests fail on tyres, against 2.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.4 ptsBrakes: 7.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 9.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+2.4 ptsSuspension: 8.3% of tests fail on suspension, against 7.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−0.5 ptsExhaust: 5.8% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 5.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust−0.4 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Lights: 20.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 15.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics
20.4% vs 15.0%
Suspension
8.3% vs 7.8%
Body & structure
7.8% vs 6.8%
Brakes
7.1% vs 9.4%
Emissions & leaks
5.8% vs 5.4%
Visibility
5.4% vs 6.3%
Seat belts & airbags
3.8% vs 1.7%
Tyres
2.5% vs 2.1%
Steering
1.9% vs 3.2%
Wheels
0.2% vs 0.2%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Headlight aim 1.5× typical
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Sidelights 1.5× typical
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Wheel bearings 1.5× typical
    Listen for a hum or drone that rises with speed.
  • Headlight bulbs & units
    Check dipped and main beam on both sides.
  • Windscreen washers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Handbrake performance
    Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

60%65%70%75%80%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k70%70%68%69%67%
Citroën 2CVTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Headlight aim6.3%4.1%1.5×
Rear fog light6.0%2.8%2.1×
Sidelights4.5%3.0%1.5×
Non catalyst emissions4.2%3.5%1.2×
Headlight bulbs & units3.7%2.8%1.3×
Windscreen washers3.3%3.8%0.9×
Handbrake performance3.1%2.3%1.3×
Prescribed areas3.1%1.1%2.7×
Brake lights2.9%2.2%1.3×
Indicators2.7%1.7%1.6×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements63.0
An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning57.0
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning45.0
Emissions levels exceed default limits42.7
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning36.2
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen33.1
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED31.3
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired29.9
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

1990 Citroën 2CV1 engine68.4% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
0.6 Petrol1,54268.4%Beats 23%D
1989 Citroën 2CV1 engine69.5% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
0.6 Petrol2,99769.5%Beats 31%D
1988 Citroën 2CV1 engine69.5% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
0.6 Petrol4,26969.5%Beats 32%D
1987 Citroën 2CV1 engine68.9% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
0.6 Petrol5,21668.9%Beats 26%D
1986 Citroën 2CV1 engine69.1% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
0.6 Petrol3,84269.1%Beats 31%D
1985 Citroën 2CV1 engine69.4% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
0.6 Petrol2,27169.4%Beats 36%D
1984 Citroën 2CV1 engine66.6% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
0.6 Petrol1,06266.6%Beats 20%D

FAQ

What is the Citroën 2CV MOT pass rate?

69.0% of MOT tests on the Citroën 2CV were passed first time, based on 21,199 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 1984–1990. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 72.5% of the time.

Is the Citroën 2CV reliable?

On MOT results it rates D (below average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 29% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Citroën 2CV year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 1985 2CV does best for its age and mileage: it beats 36% of cars on UK roads. The 1984 does worst: it beats 20%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Citroën 2CV?

The most common failure items are headlight aim, rear fog light, sidelights. Compared with similar cars, rear fog light comes up 2.1× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.