2015 Citroen C3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 76,396 MOT tests, the 2015 Citroen C3 recorded an 81.7% pass rate. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (17.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.2% of tests against 6.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, joints and exhaust system — stop lamp alone was recorded 2,822 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.6% versus 11.1%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 17.8% of the time against 18.9% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 7,798 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 4,583 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.6% | 4,298 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.6% | 3,514 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 3,055 |
| 6 | Brakes | 3.6% | 2,740 |
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 | 2,822 |
| 2 | Joints | 2,786 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 2,440 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,393 |
| 5 | Wipers | 2,089 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 2,043 |
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 | 26.9% | 20,523 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.0% | 16,793 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.2% | 10,117 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.5% | 7,232 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 5,007 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.0% | 4,589 |
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 | 15,578 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 36,564 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 18,370 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 4,679 | 27.3% |
| 120-150k | 936 | 27.2% |
| 150k+ | 260 | 29.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 39,913 | 17.8% |
| Diesel | 36,483 | 18.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,973 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 15,248 | 16.8% |
| 2023 | 15,353 | 18.3% |
| 2024 | 15,434 | 20.3% |
| 2025 | 15,388 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 C3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.0% 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+.
- Tyres (5.6% 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 2015 Citroen C3s pass their MOT?
81.7% of the 76,396 2015 Citroen C3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Citroen C3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.2% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (6.0%).
Does the 2015 C3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 29.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 76,396 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.