Verdict
Citroën cars and vans pass their MOT first time on 62.6% of tests, against 69.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. That beats only 15% of cars on UK roads and ranks Citroën 36th of 40 makes, well behind Ford and Volkswagen.
No Citroën model beats half of cars. The C1 comes closest, beating 42%, with the C5 at 41% and the C3 Aircross (2017 on) at 39%; the C3, the most common Citroën, beats 15% and the C4 14%.
Check most carefully: the DS3 (2010–2015) and the C4 Cactus beat only 2% of cars, the Dispatch van and the Grand C4 Picasso 6% and the DS4 10%.
Body and structure fails about twice as often as on a typical car of the same age and mileage (about 7% of tests against 3.5%), and lights and electrics about 1.5 times as often (about 19% of tests). Seat belts and airbags, steering and visibility also fail clearly more often. Vans such as the Berlingo (beats 10%) and Dispatch pull the make down, partly from hard commercial use, but most Citroën cars also do worse than typical.
Best Citroën models
Models with 50,000+ MOT tests. Beats = share of cars on UK roads it does better than.
No Citroën model beats half of cars.
Check most carefully
- C4 Cactus Beats 2%
- DS3 Beats 2%
- Grand C4 Picasso Beats 6%
- Dispatch Beats 7%
- Berlingo Beats 10%
Where it fails
Every Citroën compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Citroën models
Models with 20,000+ MOT tests, 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. Light vans are included and tend to grade lower, partly from hard commercial use.
| Model first registered | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| C3 2002–2023 | 63.9% | Beats 15% | E |
| Berlingo 1998–2023 | 58.4% | Beats 10% | E |
| C1 2005–2021 | 71.6% | Beats 42% | C |
| C4 2005–2023 | 62.1% | Beats 14% | E |
| DS3 2010–2015 | 56.9% | Beats 2% | E |
| Xsara 2000–2010 | 48.5% | Beats 27% | D |
| Dispatch 2002–2023 | 58.0% | Beats 7% | E |
| C2 2003–2010 | 51.4% | Beats 23% | D |
| C3 Aircross 2017–2023 | 85.8% | Beats 39% | D |
| C5 2002–2021 | 65.3% | Beats 41% | C |
| Grand C4 Picasso 2008–2018 | 64.8% | Beats 6% | E |
| Nemo 2008–2017 | 60.0% | Beats 17% | E |
| C4 Cactus 2015–2020 | 74.7% | Beats 2% | E |
| DS4 2011–2015 | 60.8% | Beats 10% | E |
| Relay 2003–2023 | 62.4% | Beats 31% | D |
| Saxo 1999–2003 | 49.2% | Beats 18% | E |
| C4 Picasso 2014–2018 | 77.8% | Beats 18% | E |
| C3 Picasso 2015–2017 | 74.8% | Beats 2% | E |
| DS5 2012–2015 | 66.4% | Beats 33% | D |
| 2CV 1984–1990 | 69.0% | Beats 29% | D |
FAQ
What is the Citroën MOT pass rate?
62.6% of Citroën MOT tests were passed first time, from 8.8 million tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 69.7%, so Citroëns do clearly worse than typical.
Are Citroëns reliable?
On MOT results they are well below average: Citroën beats only 15% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account, and ranks 36th of 40 makes. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Citroën model is most reliable?
The C1 does best of the common models, beating 42% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account. The C5 beats 41% and the C3 Aircross (2017 on) 39%.
Which Citroën should I avoid?
The DS3 (2010–2015) and the C4 Cactus do worst, each beating only 2% of cars, followed by the Dispatch van and the Grand C4 Picasso (6%) and the DS4 (10%).
What do Citroëns fail their MOT on?
Lights and electrics (about 19% of tests, against about 12.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage), then suspension and brakes. Body and structure fails about twice as often as typical.