2013 Citroen C3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 88,438 MOT tests, the 2013 Citroen C3 recorded a 77.6% pass rate. That is 1.3 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 21.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests against 7.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, joints and exhaust system — stop lamp alone was recorded 4,863 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.0% versus 12.5%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 22.2% of the time against 22.5% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 12,491 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 6,150 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.9% | 6,084 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.6% | 4,939 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 4,105 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.6% | 4,096 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 4,863 |
| 2 | Joints | 3,584 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 3,393 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 3,374 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 3,063 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 2,888 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 27.8% | 24,606 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.4% | 22,498 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.8% | 13,073 |
| 4 | Suspension | 13.9% | 12,321 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 8,809 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.9% | 6,986 |
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 | 7,199 | 12.5% |
| 30-60k | 32,997 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 31,537 | 25.1% |
| 90-120k | 12,575 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 3,155 | 29.9% |
| 150k+ | 962 | 31.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 49,901 | 22.5% |
| Petrol | 38,537 | 22.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,518 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 17,746 | 20.5% |
| 2023 | 17,992 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 17,862 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 17,320 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 2013 C3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.0% 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+.
- Suspension (6.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2013 Citroen C3s pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 88,438 2013 Citroen C3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Citroen C3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (7.0%).
Does the 2013 C3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 0-30k band to 31.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 88,438 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.