Citroen C3 Picasso MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 6,176 class-4 normal initial MOT tests in 2024, 69.4% passed without an initial fail or PRS repair — below the 71.2% UK average. Pass rate moves with age: 70.9% of cars aged 6–9 years passed first time, against 60.8% aged 10–14 years.
Checking a Citroen C3 Picasso?
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6–9 years | 5,353 | 70.9% |
| 10–14 years | 696 | 60.8% |
Common initial failure categories
These are the items that most often caused a Citroen C3 Picasso to fail its first test, with what each one usually means for a buyer.
- Transmission — 5.7% of tests. A fault with a driveshaft, gaiter or transmission component. Costs vary widely.
- Condition — 5.6% of tests. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Stop Lamp — 5.3% of tests. A brake light out. Usually a bulb.
- Headlamps — 3.6% of tests. A headlight fault, from a blown bulb to a failed unit.
- Mechanical Brake Components — 3.4% of tests. Worn discs, pads or callipers. Routine wear, but it should be priced into the deal.
- Headlamp Aim — 3.2% of tests. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
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.
Before you buy
- Transmission — 5.7% of tests in 2024. A fault with a driveshaft, gaiter or transmission component. Costs vary widely.
- Condition — 5.6% of tests in 2024. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Stop Lamp — 5.3% of tests in 2024. A brake light out. Usually a bulb.
- Headlamps — 3.6% of tests in 2024. A headlight fault, from a blown bulb to a failed unit.
- Check the actual C3 Picasso — 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 C3 — 63.2% pass
- 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
See every Citroen model MOT pass rate
Common questions
What is the Citroen C3 Picasso MOT pass rate?
69.4% of 6,176 class-4 initial MOT tests on the Citroen C3 Picasso passed first time in 2024 — below the 71.2% UK average.
Why does the C3 Picasso fail its MOT?
The most common initial failure categories are transmission (5.7% of tests), condition (5.6% of tests), stop lamp (5.3% of tests), headlamps (3.6% of tests).
Does this tell me whether one particular C3 Picasso 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.