2021 Citroen C3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 18,024 MOT tests, the 2021 Citroen C3 recorded a 93.3% pass rate. That is 1.0 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 7.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.5%) and tyres (2.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and brake discs — headlamp aim alone was recorded 330 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.2% versus 4.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 17.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 3.7% of tests failed in 2023 against 7.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 638 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.3% | 418 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.1% | 371 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.1% | 197 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 159 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 78 |
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 | 330 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 226 |
| 3 | Brake discs | 215 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 200 |
| 5 | Washers | 137 |
| 6 | Joints | 115 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.2% | 3,093 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.4% | 2,781 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.4% | 979 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.5% | 456 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 230 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.9% | 160 |
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 | 12,139 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 5,299 | 9.9% |
| 60-90k | 508 | 14.4% |
| 90-120k | 66 | 21.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 17,720 | 6.6% |
| Diesel | 304 | 14.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 517 | 3.7% |
| 2024 | 8,679 | 6.3% |
| 2025 | 8,815 | 7.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 C3
On a 2021 C3, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (3.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.3% 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 (2.1% 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 2021 Citroen C3s pass their MOT?
93.3% of the 18,024 2021 Citroen C3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Citroen C3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.5% of tests, followed by tyres (2.3%).
Does the 2021 C3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 21.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,024 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.