2020 Citroen C3 Aircross — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 15,220 MOT tests, the 2020 Citroen C3 Aircross recorded a 91.2% pass rate. Small SUVs of a similar age fail at 7.9%, so the 2020 C3 Aircross sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.3%) and brakes (3.3%) 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 headlamp aim — brake discs alone was recorded 335 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 11.9% once past 60-90k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.5pp more often than petrol ones (11.1% vs 8.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.3% | 656 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.3% | 508 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 306 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.1% | 160 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 116 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 64 |
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 | 335 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 314 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 200 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 143 |
| 5 | Washers | 126 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 120 |
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 | 24.1% | 3,671 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.8% | 3,477 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.9% | 893 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 529 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 223 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 211 |
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 | 10,521 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 4,352 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 320 | 11.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 14,250 | 8.6% |
| Diesel | 970 | 11.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 251 | 10.4% |
| 2023 | 5,080 | 8.3% |
| 2024 | 4,907 | 8.3% |
| 2025 | 4,980 | 9.8% |
What to check before buying a 2020 C3 Aircross
On a 2020 C3 Aircross, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.3% 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.
- Brakes (3.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.0% 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 2020 Citroen C3 Aircrosss pass their MOT?
91.2% of the 15,220 2020 Citroen C3 Aircross MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Citroen C3 Aircross?
Tyres, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by brakes (3.3%).
Does the 2020 C3 Aircross get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 11.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,220 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.