2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 Citroen C3 MOT pass rate and common faults

14,673 MOT tests in 2024. 54.9% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

85Well below average
Passed first time54.9%
Failed or needed repairs45.1%
Typical mileage at test74,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 14,673 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Stop lamp: not working8.1%
  2. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play5.9%
  3. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.7%
  4. Position lamp: not working5.1%
  5. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.8%
  6. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.0%
  7. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.3%
    698 marked dangerous
  8. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.6%
  9. Exhaust system: system insecure2.5%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics35.0%
  2. Suspension17.2%
  3. Body & chassis10.6%
  4. Brakes10.3%
  5. Tyres8.5%
  6. Steering7.2%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.8%
  8. Emissions & leaks4.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19.2%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened16.7%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure11.1%
  4. Exhaust system: system insecure10.7%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn8.9%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: stop lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Citroen C3?

In 2024, 54.9% of 2012 Citroen C3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 14,673 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Citroen C3?

The most common failure reasons were stop lamp: not working; track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; coil spring: fractured or broken. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2012 Citroen C3 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 85, which is well below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).