2017 · 7 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2017 Citroen C3 MOT pass rate and common faults

15,348 MOT tests in 2024. 75.0% passed first time, compared with 79.8% for all cars the same age.

94Below average
Passed first time75.0%
Failed or needed repairs25.0%
Typical mileage at test45,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 15,348 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.3%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%
    456 marked dangerous
  3. Exhaust system: system insecure1.6%
  4. Stop lamp: not working1.6%
  5. Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn1.4%
  6. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn1.3%
  7. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.3%
    233 marked dangerous
  8. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits1.2%
  9. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps1.1%
  10. Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits1.1%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics13.4%
  2. Body & chassis5.8%
  3. Tyres5.7%
  4. Emissions & leaks5.3%
  5. Brakes5.1%
  6. Suspension4.3%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.4%
  8. Steering0.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure16.4%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.9%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.1%
  4. Exhaust system: system insecure8.2%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn6.0%

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: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. 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 2017 Citroen C3?

In 2024, 75.0% of 2017 Citroen C3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 15,348 tests. The average for all 7-year-old cars was 79.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2017 Citroen C3?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; exhaust system: system insecure. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2017 Citroen C3 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 94, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).