2022 Citroen C3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,871 MOT tests, the 2022 Citroen C3 recorded a 94.3% pass rate. That is 1.2 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 6.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (2.4%) 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, brake pads and brake discs — headlamp aim alone was recorded 131 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.5% in the 0-30k band and 14.3% in the 60-90k band, a 9.8-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 5.5% fail against 8.6% for diesel, a 3.1-point gap across 7,871 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 16.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 189 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.3% | 178 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.8% | 138 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.1% | 89 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 33 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 32 |
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 | 131 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 80 |
| 3 | Brake discs | 72 |
| 4 | Washers | 53 |
| 5 | Wipers | 48 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 31 |
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 | 16.2% | 1,272 |
| 2 | Tyres | 13.8% | 1,083 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.3% | 420 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.6% | 203 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.1% | 85 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 67 |
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 | 6,296 | 4.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,441 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 119 | 14.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,263 | 5.5% |
| Diesel | 608 | 8.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 243 | 5.3% |
| 2025 | 7,623 | 5.7% |
What to check before buying a 2022 C3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 2.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (2.4% 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 (1.8% 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 2022 Citroen C3s pass their MOT?
94.3% of the 7,871 2022 Citroen C3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 Citroen C3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 2.4% of tests, followed by tyres (2.3%).
Does the 2022 C3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.5% in the 0-30k band to 14.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,871 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.