2017 Citroen C3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Citroen C3 passed 86.0% of its 108,538 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (13.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.8% of tests against 4.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, stop lamp and joints — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,792 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.0% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 13.7% fail against 15.4% for diesel, a 1.7-point gap across 108,538 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 8,501 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.2% | 4,550 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.6% | 3,868 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.0% | 3,221 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 2,552 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 2,202 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 2,792 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 2,387 |
| 3 | Joints | 2,304 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,268 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 2,148 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 2,135 |
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 | 25.6% | 27,768 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.0% | 21,753 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.7% | 9,410 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.7% | 7,252 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.0% | 6,492 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 5,513 |
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 | 35,885 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 54,456 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 15,576 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,251 | 25.5% |
| 120-150k | 272 | 21.0% |
| 150k+ | 90 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 87,357 | 13.7% |
| Diesel | 21,181 | 15.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,840 | 9.3% |
| 2022 | 21,221 | 11.5% |
| 2023 | 21,707 | 13.9% |
| 2024 | 22,181 | 16.7% |
| 2025 | 22,589 | 18.5% |
What to check before buying a 2017 C3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.2% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (3.6% 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+.
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 2017 Citroen C3s pass their MOT?
86.0% of the 108,538 2017 Citroen C3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Citroen C3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by tyres (4.2%).
Does the 2017 C3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 20.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 108,538 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.