2014 Citroen C3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Citroen C3 passed 79.5% of its 88,441 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail at 19.4%, so the 2014 C3 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.4% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, joints and coil spring — stop lamp alone was recorded 3,983 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.2% versus 11.6%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 20.4% of the time against 20.5% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 10,062 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 5,555 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.9% | 5,230 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.4% | 4,791 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.2% | 3,722 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 3,627 |
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 | 3,983 |
| 2 | Joints | 3,219 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 3,119 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 3,107 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 3,000 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 2,493 |
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 | 26.8% | 23,716 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.1% | 20,400 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.2% | 12,538 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.8% | 9,568 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.0% | 6,203 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 6,145 |
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 | 12,317 | 11.6% |
| 30-60k | 39,973 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 25,778 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 7,999 | 27.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,770 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 596 | 31.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 45,922 | 20.5% |
| Diesel | 42,519 | 20.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,346 | 17.0% |
| 2022 | 17,682 | 18.6% |
| 2023 | 17,887 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 17,752 | 22.1% |
| 2025 | 17,774 | 23.7% |
What to check before buying a 2014 C3
On a 2014 C3, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.3% 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 (5.9% 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 2014 Citroen C3s pass their MOT?
79.5% of the 88,441 2014 Citroen C3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Citroen C3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.4% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (6.3%).
Does the 2014 C3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.6% in the 0-30k band to 31.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 88,441 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.