Citroen C3 MOT Check
MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Citroen C3. Check any C3 by registration number below.
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70.3%
Avg Pass Rate
-14.4%
vs Citroen Avg
23
Year Ranges
Average
Reliability
Citroen C3 — MOT Reliability Overview
The Citroen C3 has an average MOT pass rate of 70.3%, which is 14.4 percentage points below the Citroen brand average of 84.7%. This is a reasonable result that reflects typical UK reliability standards. Regular servicing and addressing advisories promptly will help keep your C3 on the road.
The most common reasons a Citroen C3 fails its MOT are the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. If you are preparing your C3 for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.
Typical mileage for the C3 is around 32,000 miles at 5 years. When evaluating a used C3, compare the odometer reading against these benchmarks. Significantly lower mileage than expected could indicate a clocked vehicle — run a free mileage check to verify.
Before buying a used Citroen C3, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.
MOT Pass Rate by Year
How the Citroen C3 performs at MOT across different model years.
2022
Based on 243 vehicles
41k mi
2021
Based on 2,310 vehicles
0.7%
5.1%
34k mi
2020
Based on 13,180 vehicles
1.8%
8.6%
33k mi
57k mi
2019
Based on 32,295 vehicles
3.3%
11.5%
35k mi
54k mi
2018
Based on 39,561 vehicles
3.5%
14.8%
56k mi
2017
Based on 37,554 vehicles
3.9%
18.7%
61k mi
2016
Based on 20,855 vehicles
5.2%
21.8%
2015
Based on 28,579 vehicles
5.4%
24.6%
99k mi
2014
Based on 32,505 vehicles
5.8%
26.5%
99k mi
2013
Based on 31,929 vehicles
7.1%
31.1%
105k mi
2012
Based on 35,755 vehicles
7.1%
33.4%
114k mi
2011
Based on 37,102 vehicles
7.7%
35.9%
2010
Based on 44,954 vehicles
7.8%
37.4%
2009
Based on 23,941 vehicles
7.6%
37.0%
2008
Based on 12,825 vehicles
7.9%
34.3%
2007
Based on 14,202 vehicles
7.6%
33.5%
2006
Based on 12,696 vehicles
7.7%
32.9%
2005
Based on 11,035 vehicles
7.1%
34.4%
2004
Based on 9,178 vehicles
6.8%
33.9%
2003
Based on 7,330 vehicles
7.1%
34.9%
2002
Based on 42,000 vehicles
0.0%
0.1%
18k mi
32k mi
62k mi
2001
Based on 117 vehicles
117k mi
0
Based on 245,367 vehicles
65k mi
Top MOT Failures — Citroen C3
The most common reasons a Citroen C3 fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Typical Mileage — Citroen C3
Average mileage readings recorded at MOT tests for the 2002 model year range. Use these benchmarks to evaluate a used C3.
At 3 Years
18,000
miles
At 5 Years
32,000
miles
At 10 Years
62,000
miles
Other Citroen Models
Compare MOT reliability across Citroen models.
Citroen C3 — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Citroen C3 MOT and reliability.
What is the MOT pass rate for the Citroen C3?
What are the most common MOT failures on a Citroen C3?
Is the Citroen C3 reliable?
How do I check the MOT history of a Citroen C3?
What mileage should I expect on a Citroen C3?
Check Your Citroen C3's MOT History
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