Citroen C3 MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 165,464 class-4 normal initial MOT tests in 2024, 63.2% passed without an initial fail or PRS repair — below the 71.2% UK average. Pass rate moves with age: 85.6% of cars aged 3–5 years passed first time, against 50.7% aged 15–30 years.
Checking a Citroen C3?
Model-level statistics cannot reveal the condition or provenance of one car.
Check its registration free for the actual MOT, tax and mileage record. Before buying, the optional £9.99 full history check adds outstanding-finance, stolen and insurance write-off checks.
Pass rate by vehicle age
| Age | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 17,257 | 85.6% |
| 6–9 years | 48,565 | 73.5% |
| 10–14 years | 67,960 | 56.1% |
| 15–30 years | 31,682 | 50.7% |
Common initial failure categories
These are the items that most often caused a Citroen C3 to fail its first test, with what each one usually means for a buyer.
- Stop Lamp — 5.1% of tests. A brake light out. Usually a bulb.
- Headlamp Aim — 4.9% of tests. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Headlamps — 4.5% of tests. A headlight fault, from a blown bulb to a failed unit.
- Suspension Arms — 4.3% of tests. Worn arms or bushes. A common age-related repair that affects handling and tyre wear.
- Transmission — 4.3% of tests. A fault with a driveshaft, gaiter or transmission component. Costs vary widely.
- Position Lamps — 4.2% of tests. A side or tail light out. Usually a bulb.
What this does and does not tell you
A pass rate describes how a population of cars behaved on test day. It says nothing about how one car was driven, serviced or repaired, and an MOT does not cover the engine, clutch or gearbox at all.
Use it to know what to look for: if tyres and brakes dominate the list, price those in; if corrosion or suspension appears, get underneath the car. Then check the individual vehicle — its MOT history shows whether these same items have been advised year after year, and its mileage record shows whether the reading is consistent.
How many Citroen C3 are left?
At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 258,958 licensed and 14,502 SORN vehicles in the Citroen C3 generic-model group.
Licensed and SORN trend for the Citroen C3
Before you buy
- Stop Lamp — 5.1% of tests in 2024. A brake light out. Usually a bulb.
- Headlamp Aim — 4.9% of tests in 2024. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Headlamps — 4.5% of tests in 2024. A headlight fault, from a blown bulb to a failed unit.
- Suspension Arms — 4.3% of tests in 2024. Worn arms or bushes. A common age-related repair that affects handling and tyre wear.
- Check the actual C3 — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.
Other Citroen models
- Citroen Berlingo — 57.3% pass
- Citroen C1 — 69.1% pass
- Citroen C4 — 58.6% pass
- Citroen DS3 — 52.1% pass
- Citroen Dispatch — 57.1% pass
- Citroen C3 Aircross — 84% pass
See every Citroen model MOT pass rate
Common questions
What is the Citroen C3 MOT pass rate?
63.2% of 165,464 class-4 initial MOT tests on the Citroen C3 passed first time in 2024 — below the 71.2% UK average.
Why does the C3 fail its MOT?
The most common initial failure categories are stop lamp (5.1% of tests), headlamp aim (4.9% of tests), headlamps (4.5% of tests), suspension arms (4.3% of tests).
How many Citroen C3 are left in the UK?
258,958 were licensed and 14,502 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.
Does this tell me whether one particular C3 is a good buy?
No. These are population statistics. Enter that car's registration for its own MOT, tax and mileage record, then check outstanding finance, write-off and stolen markers before buying.
Methodology and limitations
MOT outcomes describe testable items at the time of inspection. They are not a measure of overall mechanical reliability.
Scope: Class 4 normal initial MOT tests completed in 2024. Models require at least 1,000 qualifying tests. Duplicate source rows are removed using official DVSA test IDs.
Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published 2025-05-23 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check the actual car
Enter the registration for that car's own free MOT, tax and mileage record. Before money changes hands, the £9.99 full history check adds outstanding finance, insurance write-off and stolen checks.