Citroën C3 Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Citroën C3 passes its MOT first time on 63.9% of tests, 6.9 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (70.8%). That puts it ahead of 15% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2019 C3 does best (beats 34% of cars) and the 2016 worst (beats 5%).

Of its engines, the 1.6 Petrol does best (beats 21%) and the 1.1 Petrol worst (beats 14%).

Watch these weak spots

Lights & electrics1.5×as often as a typical car

Body & structure2.2×as often as a typical car

Brake lights2.0×as often as a typical car

Exhaust system2.9×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Citroën C3Typical car, same age & mileage

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.

Beats 22%

Beats 19%

Beats 21%

Beats 24%

Beats 29%

Beats 20%

Beats 17%

Beats 13%

Beats 15%

Beats 14%

Beats 9%

Beats 11%

Beats 8%

Beats 6%

Beats 5%

Beats 13%

Beats 23%

Beats 34%

Beats 53%

Beats 66%

Beats 67%

Beats 77%

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.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	2005–2018	475,969	61.4%	Beats 14%	E
1.2 Petrol	2013–2023	451,446	79.9%	Beats 15%	E
1.4 Petrol	2002–2015	401,318	54.4%	Beats 17%	E
1.4 Diesel	2002–2015	164,696	51.9%	Beats 14%	E
1.6 Petrol	2002–2015	129,185	64.8%	Beats 21%	D
1.1 Petrol	2004–2011	56,805	52.7%	Beats 14%	E
1.0 Petrol	2013–2016	25,540	69.8%	Beats 2%	E
1.5 Diesel	2019–2022	2,912	79.8%	Beats 17%	E

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.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Lights: 17.8% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 11.8% 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

17.8% vs 11.8%

Suspension

11.1% vs 9.2%

Body & structure

7.3% vs 3.3%

Tyres

7.0% vs 6.2%

Brakes

6.5% vs 6.8%

Visibility

6.4% vs 5.0%

Emissions & leaks

3.9% vs 2.9%

Steering

2.8% vs 1.8%

Seat belts & airbags

1.1% vs 1.0%

Wheels

0.2% vs 0.3%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Brake lights 2.0× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Exhaust system 2.9× typical
Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look for heavy corrosion underneath.
Headlight bulbs & units 1.9× typical
Check dipped and main beam on both sides.
Suspension ball joints 2.0× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
Track rod ends 1.7× typical
Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres.
Headlight aim
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Citroën C3Typical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Brake lights	4.6%	2.3%	2.0×
Headlight aim	4.4%	3.2%	1.4×
Headlight bulbs & units	4.0%	2.1%	1.9×
Tyre damage & cracking	3.7%	3.4%	1.1×
Coil springs	3.6%	2.6%	1.4×
Sidelights	3.5%	2.7%	1.3×
Exhaust system	3.3%	1.2%	2.9×
Drive shaft (CV) joints	3.3%	1.3%	2.6×
Tyre tread depth	3.0%	2.4%	1.3×
Windscreen washers	3.0%	2.1%	1.4×

Specific defects found

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

Defect	per 1,000
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	45.1
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	43.7
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	41.8
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened	35.4
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED	34.4
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	33.8
Exhaust system leaking or insecure	31.1
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	30.2

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.

2023 Citroën C31 engine91.4% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	4,561	91.4%	Beats 77%	B

2022 Citroën C32 engines90.7% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	11,960	91.1%	Beats 69%	B
1.5 Diesel	1,035	86.4%	Beats 50%	C

2021 Citroën C31 engine89.6% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	23,573	89.6%	Beats 66%	B

2020 Citroën C31 engine87.8% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	29,870	87.8%	Beats 53%	C

2019 Citroën C32 engines84.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	64,481	85.1%	Beats 35%	D
1.5 Diesel	1,877	76.1%	Beats 10%	E

2018 Citroën C32 engines82.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	83,119	82.5%	Beats 24%	D
1.6 Diesel	7,664	78.8%	Beats 15%	E

2017 Citroën C32 engines79.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	94,866	79.3%	Beats 13%	E
1.6 Diesel	11,000	76.5%	Beats 17%	E

2016 Citroën C33 engines75.5% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	39,060	77.6%	Beats 7%	E
1.6 Diesel	25,482	72.6%	Beats 4%	E
1.0 Petrol	5,565	74.2%	Beats 2%	E

2015 Citroën C36 engines73.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	49,074	71.6%	Beats 6%	E
1.2 Petrol	40,982	74.5%	Beats 6%	E
1.0 Petrol	7,210	73.0%	Beats 4%	E
1.6 Petrol	6,975	79.0%	Beats 17%	E
1.4 Petrol	2,941	75.1%	Beats 8%	E
1.4 Diesel	2,473	69.7%	Beats 5%	E

2014 Citroën C36 engines69.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	51,629	69.5%	Beats 14%	E
1.2 Petrol	32,071	68.2%	Beats 3%	E
1.6 Petrol	17,987	76.2%	Beats 23%	D
1.0 Petrol	9,764	66.4%	Beats 2%	E
1.4 Diesel	8,012	65.6%	Beats 5%	E
1.4 Petrol	5,090	72.6%	Beats 10%	E

2013 Citroën C36 engines65.8% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	56,673	65.1%	Beats 15%	E
1.2 Petrol	26,903	63.4%	Beats 4%	E
1.6 Petrol	17,112	72.5%	Beats 24%	D
1.4 Diesel	11,751	63.0%	Beats 8%	E
1.4 Petrol	6,456	69.6%	Beats 14%	E
1.0 Petrol	3,001	64.8%	Beats 4%	E

2012 Citroën C34 engines60.6% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	54,768	60.0%	Beats 12%	E
1.4 Petrol	45,183	61.1%	Beats 6%	E
1.4 Diesel	20,051	54.4%	Beats 4%	E
1.6 Petrol	15,396	69.1%	Beats 23%	D

2011 Citroën C35 engines58.1% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	70,333	58.1%	Beats 18%	E
1.4 Petrol	37,908	59.8%	Beats 11%	E
1.4 Diesel	19,970	52.7%	Beats 7%	E
1.6 Petrol	11,097	62.5%	Beats 11%	E
1.1 Petrol	4,051	56.4%	Beats 6%	E

2010 Citroën C35 engines54.8% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	88,823	53.3%	Beats 16%	E
1.4 Petrol	43,010	57.3%	Beats 15%	E
1.4 Diesel	18,685	51.2%	Beats 11%	E
1.6 Petrol	13,463	61.6%	Beats 21%	D
1.1 Petrol	10,912	55.0%	Beats 8%	E

2009 Citroën C35 engines52.2% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	43,773	49.5%	Beats 14%	E
1.4 Petrol	26,473	54.3%	Beats 12%	E
1.4 Diesel	10,616	51.4%	Beats 12%	E
1.6 Petrol	9,473	58.2%	Beats 16%	E
1.1 Petrol	5,660	53.9%	Beats 7%	E

2008 Citroën C35 engines53.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	28,931	53.9%	Beats 16%	E
1.4 Diesel	12,094	50.5%	Beats 20%	D
1.1 Petrol	5,878	53.5%	Beats 12%	E
1.6 Petrol	5,388	58.5%	Beats 19%	E
1.6 Diesel	5,020	51.1%	Beats 21%	D

2007 Citroën C35 engines53.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	33,093	54.4%	Beats 23%	D
1.4 Diesel	13,098	47.9%	Beats 17%	E
1.6 Petrol	10,445	57.0%	Beats 25%	D
1.1 Petrol	8,131	53.0%	Beats 16%	E
1.6 Diesel	4,553	50.6%	Beats 26%	D

2006 Citroën C35 engines53.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	36,243	54.4%	Beats 29%	D
1.6 Petrol	9,984	58.0%	Beats 33%	D
1.4 Diesel	8,489	49.6%	Beats 28%	D
1.1 Petrol	8,189	53.1%	Beats 21%	D
1.6 Diesel	4,641	51.1%	Beats 34%	D

2005 Citroën C35 engines50.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	42,431	51.1%	Beats 24%	D
1.4 Diesel	10,783	46.8%	Beats 26%	D
1.1 Petrol	7,703	49.7%	Beats 20%	D
1.6 Petrol	3,651	49.8%	Beats 20%	D
1.6 Diesel	2,536	50.3%	Beats 36%	D

2004 Citroën C34 engines47.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	39,148	48.3%	Beats 20%	D
1.4 Diesel	12,794	45.3%	Beats 25%	D
1.1 Petrol	6,281	47.6%	Beats 18%	E
1.6 Petrol	3,212	51.3%	Beats 30%	D

2003 Citroën C33 engines45.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	40,261	45.7%	Beats 17%	E
1.4 Diesel	10,856	45.2%	Beats 27%	D
1.6 Petrol	3,523	47.4%	Beats 21%	D

2002 Citroën C33 engines45.6% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	14,150	45.1%	Beats 18%	E
1.4 Diesel	5,024	46.8%	Beats 33%	D
1.6 Petrol	1,479	47.1%	Beats 26%	D

FAQ

What is the Citroën C3 MOT pass rate?

63.9% of MOT tests on the Citroën C3 were passed first time, based on 1,707,871 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2002–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 70.8% of the time.

Is the Citroën C3 reliable?

On MOT results it rates E (poor): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 15% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Citroën C3 year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2019 C3 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 34% of cars on UK roads. The 2016 does worst: it beats 5%.

Which Citroën C3 engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.6 Petrol does best: it beats 21% of cars on UK roads. The 1.1 Petrol does worst: it beats 14%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Citroën C3?

The most common failure items are brake lights, headlight aim, headlight bulbs & units. Compared with similar cars, brake lights comes up 2.0× 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.

Citroën C3 reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ