MOT failure data · 2025

Citroen C3 MOT problems

Across every Citroen C3 that failed its 2025 MOT, the defect testers recorded most often was joints constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt, on 5.03% of failure items. The broadest problem area was lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment at 25.93%. These are recorded defects across the model, not a diagnosis of any one car.

Most common Citroen C3 MOT failures

#	Recorded defect	Area	Share
1	Joints constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt	Body, chassis, structure	5.03%
2	Coil spring fractured or broken	Suspension	4.98%
3	Position lamp not working	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	4.45%
4	Ball joint ball joint excessively worn	Suspension	4.33%
5	Stop lamp not working	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	4.25%
6	Tread depth tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	3.85%
7	Track rod end ball joint has excessive play	Steering	3.58%
8	Headlamp not working on dipped beam	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	2.58%
9	Individual direction indicators incorrect colour	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	2.55%
10	Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	2.37%

Shares are of all recorded failure items for this model, so they sum to less than 100% — a single failed test often records several defects, and the long tail below the top 10 is not shown.

What this means if you are buying one

Use it as a viewing checklist. If you are looking at a Citroen C3, these are the areas worth inspecting and worth asking about — and worth reading the car's own MOT history for, since a defect that keeps reappearing as an advisory is a better signal than any model-wide average.

The MOT record also has hard limits: it does not check the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it says nothing about outstanding finance, insurance write-off history, stolen markers or whether the mileage is genuine. Our used Citroen C3 buying guide covers what to check beyond the MOT.

Checking a specific Citroen C3?

Enter its registration for finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history.

Other Citroen models

Citroen C3 MOT FAQs

What does a Citroen C3 most commonly fail its MOT on?

The single most recorded defect on Citroen C3 cars failing their 2025 MOT was "joints constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt", appearing on 5.03% of failure items.

Does this mean my Citroen C3 will fail?

No. This is what testers recorded across every Citroen C3 that failed in 2025. It shows where this model tends to need attention, not the condition of any individual car. The Citroen C3 passed 74.75% of its initial tests.

How do I see a specific Citroen C3's MOT history?

Enter its registration on our free MOT history check to see that car's own test results, advisories and recorded mileages.

Defect counts from the DVSA MOT Anonymised test-item data for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, failure items only — advisories and minor defects excluded), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.