2019 Citroen C3 Aircross — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 43,433 MOT tests, the 2019 Citroen C3 Aircross recorded a 90.5% pass rate. Small SUVs of a similar age fail at 8.8%, so the 2019 C3 Aircross sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (3.5%) and tyres (3.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake discs, brake pads and tread depth — brake discs alone was recorded 1,063 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 14.3% once past 90-120k — 2.1× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (11.8% vs 9.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 4.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 3.5% | 1,536 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.5% | 1,523 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 1,045 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 847 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 580 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 303 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake discs | 1,063 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 924 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 720 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 705 |
| 5 | Joints | 558 |
| 6 | Washers | 504 |
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 | 24.9% | 10,811 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.9% | 10,803 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.1% | 2,641 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 2,015 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 684 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.3% | 544 |
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 | 24,292 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 17,085 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,938 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 98 | 14.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 40,725 | 9.4% |
| Diesel | 2,708 | 11.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 499 | 4.8% |
| 2022 | 10,661 | 6.7% |
| 2023 | 10,705 | 8.7% |
| 2024 | 10,698 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 10,870 | 12.2% |
What to check before buying a 2019 C3 Aircross
On a 2019 C3 Aircross, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (3.5% 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 (3.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2019 Citroen C3 Aircrosss pass their MOT?
90.5% of the 43,433 2019 Citroen C3 Aircross MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Citroen C3 Aircross?
Brakes, recorded in 3.5% of tests, followed by tyres (3.5%).
Does the 2019 C3 Aircross get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 14.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 43,433 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.