2016 Citroen C3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 52,888 MOT tests analysed for the 2016 Citroen C3, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility. Its pass rate of 83.6% was in line with the average for superminis of a similar age (84.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 28.6% in the 150k+ group versus 10.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 4,648 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.4% | 2,843 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.9% | 2,580 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 2,452 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.4% | 1,783 |
| 6 | Brakes | 3.0% | 1,595 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,879 |
| 2 | Joints | 1,856 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,607 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,560 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,148 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,125 |
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% | 14,201 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.0% | 10,590 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 5,269 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.5% | 3,989 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.8% | 3,058 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 2,643 |
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 | 16,490 | 10.8% |
| 30-60k | 25,424 | 16.6% |
| 60-90k | 8,763 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,836 | 26.3% |
| 120-150k | 302 | 33.1% |
| 150k+ | 70 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 33,405 | 15.5% |
| Diesel | 19,483 | 18.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,289 | 12.5% |
| 2022 | 10,370 | 13.5% |
| 2023 | 10,691 | 16.6% |
| 2024 | 10,734 | 19.0% |
| 2025 | 10,804 | 20.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 C3
Before buying a 2016 Citroen C3, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 8.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (8.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.4% 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.
- Visibility (4.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2016 Citroen C3s pass their MOT?
83.6% of the 52,888 2016 Citroen C3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Citroen C3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by tyres (5.4%).
Does the 2016 C3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 0-30k band to 28.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 52,888 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.