2017 Citroen C3 Aircross — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Citroen C3 Aircross passed 87.3% of its 5,239 recorded MOT tests. Small SUVs of a similar age fail at 11.9%, so the 2017 C3 Aircross sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (6.0%) and brakes (4.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, brake discs and brake pads — joints alone was recorded 309 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.8% in the 0-30k band and 17.2% in the 90-120k band, a 9.5-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.8pp more often than petrol ones (16.3% vs 11.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 26.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 317 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.2% | 218 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.2% | 168 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 119 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.5% | 76 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.1% | 55 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 309 |
| 2 | Brake discs | 147 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 127 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 83 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 79 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 73 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 26.3% | 1,376 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.1% | 1,260 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 496 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 308 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.3% | 172 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 83 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 2,125 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 2,475 | 15.1% |
| 60-90k | 574 | 20.0% |
| 90-120k | 58 | 17.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,947 | 11.5% |
| Diesel | 1,292 | 16.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 982 | 6.8% |
| 2022 | 1,022 | 10.2% |
| 2023 | 1,071 | 14.0% |
| 2024 | 1,074 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 1,090 | 16.7% |
What to check before buying a 2017 C3 Aircross
On a 2017 C3 Aircross, body, structure & corrosion is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.0% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Brakes (4.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Tyres (3.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2017 Citroen C3 Aircrosss pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 5,239 2017 Citroen C3 Aircross MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Citroen C3 Aircross?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by brakes (4.2%).
Does the 2017 C3 Aircross get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 17.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,239 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.