2019 Citroen C3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Citroen C3 passed 90.9% of its 60,477 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (10.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.2%) and tyres (3.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake discs — tread depth alone was recorded 1,454 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.1% once past 120-150k — 4.2× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 8.9% fail against 13.8% for diesel, a 4.8-point gap across 60,474 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 3,122 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.5% | 2,136 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.3% | 1,418 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.3% | 789 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 735 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 590 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 1,454 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,299 |
| 3 | Brake discs | 800 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 779 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 768 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 610 |
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 | 23.3% | 14,089 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.5% | 10,569 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.6% | 4,010 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.1% | 2,492 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.9% | 2,361 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 1,717 |
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 | 33,253 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 23,342 | 12.4% |
| 60-90k | 3,467 | 18.1% |
| 90-120k | 347 | 22.5% |
| 120-150k | 58 | 24.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 58,414 | 8.9% |
| Diesel | 2,060 | 13.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 809 | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 14,777 | 5.9% |
| 2023 | 14,869 | 8.2% |
| 2024 | 14,790 | 10.4% |
| 2025 | 15,232 | 12.1% |
What to check before buying a 2019 C3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.5% 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.
- Brakes (2.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2019 Citroen C3s pass their MOT?
90.9% of the 60,477 2019 Citroen C3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Citroen C3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by tyres (3.5%).
Does the 2019 C3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.7% in the 0-30k band to 24.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 60,477 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.