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MOT reliability

Citroen C3

313,702 vehicles · 4,465,867 completed MOT tests analysed
73%
MOT pass rate

Based on 313,702 Citroen C3 vehicles and 4,465,867 completed MOT tests, the Citroen C3 has an overall 73% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 84,223 miles.

313,702
Vehicles
4,465,867
MOT tests
6,369
Avg miles / year
1.9
Faults per test
2%
Dangerous-fault share

Citroen C3 problem areas

Where faults occur most across all Citroen C3 MOT tests:

  • Other55%
  • Tyres, wheels & suspension22%
  • Brakes13%
  • Lamps & electrical9%
  • Emissions & nuisance5%
  • Body & structure5%
  • Visibility2%
  • Seatbelts & equipment2%

Citroen C3 pass rate by age

How the Citroen C3's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).

Age (years)TestsPass rate
119888%
211,58286%
3365,52985%
4376,66482%
5390,66778%
6397,99476%
7394,02973%
8378,61872%
9357,58070%
10338,04669%
11313,76768%
12281,72367%
13240,77366%
14195,14966%
15147,34165%
16100,52265%
1765,27365%
1844,53365%
1929,46765%
2018,41265%

Fuel types: Petrol (209,788), Diesel (103,738), Electric (133), LPG (22), Other (16), Gas Bi-Fuel (4), Hybrid Electric (Clean) (1)

Most common Citroen C3 MOT faults

These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Citroen C3 MOT tests:

  1. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (126,782 times)
  2. Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i)) (125,815 times)
  3. Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (125,437 times)
  4. Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (116,650 times)
  5. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (114,785 times)
  6. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (93,072 times)
  7. Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) (85,108 times)
  8. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (83,667 times)
  9. Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) (81,864 times)
  10. Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) (76,396 times)
  11. Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g) (66,808 times)
  12. Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i) (64,038 times)
  13. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (61,390 times)
  14. Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) (55,149 times)
  15. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (51,362 times)

Citroen C3 pass rate by registration year

YearVehiclesTestsPass rateAvg mileage
2026 12 13 50% 102,540
2025 141 141 100% 6,593
2024 220 228 79% 50,207
2023 716 789 93% 23,015
2022 1,000 1,331 92% 22,832
2021 861 2,679 92% 34,181
2020 4,861 19,131 89% 37,593
2019 13,536 70,792 87% 44,055
2018 16,309 101,548 85% 50,257
2017 16,038 125,965 84% 55,128
2016 9,088 83,609 80% 55,917
2015 12,789 133,397 79% 63,577
2014 14,767 173,507 78% 69,168
2013 14,722 193,519 76% 78,530
2012 17,039 246,985 74% 84,692
2011 18,700 290,059 74% 93,767
2010 23,981 399,466 72% 98,289
2009 14,231 250,428 70% 95,707
2008 10,238 177,156 71% 91,338
2007 14,636 252,193 72% 92,582
2006 16,968 291,774 72% 92,467
2005 20,974 369,682 71% 95,681
2004 25,526 455,252 69% 98,350
2003 31,602 568,308 68% 104,776
2002 14,696 258,409 68% 110,607
2001 20 264 66% 99,840
2000 6 85 69% 119,503
1974 1 1 100% 21,949

Citroen C3 reliability FAQ

Across 313,702 Citroen C3 vehicles in our MOT data, 73% pass the MOT (a 27% failure rate), with about 1.9 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Citroen C3 MOT issues are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1); Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i)); Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1).

The typical Citroen C3 in our data has covered around 84,223 miles.

Compare the Citroen C3

See how the Citroen C3 stacks up against other Citroen models on MOT reliability:

C3 vs Xsara C3 vs Berlingo C3 vs C4 C3 vs Saxo

Check a specific Citroen C3

Enter a registration to see that exact vehicle's full MOT history, advisories and recurring faults.

See all Citroen models · Learn about common MOT failures · what an MOT checks