Citroen C3 reliability, MOT pass rate and rarity

Time Period & Model

Time period snapshot: Last 5 years

Manufacturer: Citroen

Model: C3

Model reliability rank

MOT-based rank from 1,260,100 selected-period tests.

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Overall MOT pass rate

73.1%

Share of this model's 1,260,100 selected-period MOT tests that pass.

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Efficiency, emissions & tax

Average MPG

51.2 mpg

CO2 emission

123 g/km

Euro emissions

Euro 6

Tax cost

£175/yr

Vehicle list price over £40,000?NoYes

Average vehicle miles

75,248

Moderate average mileage in the current pool.

Life expectancy miles

84,255

Lower mature-fleet mileage expectation.

Average vehicle age

12.6

Comfortable mid-life age pattern.

Vehicles represented

158,303

157,934 valid MOT, 369 under 3 years.

Tests analysed

1,260,100

1,260,100 MOT tests in the selected period.

Rarity ranking

Based on Make & Model

Common

158,303On the road

Insight summary

Citroen C3 is a common model in this snapshot, with 158,303 represented vehicles and 0.38% of the active UK pool tracked by AutoRank. For the last 5 years, it has a pass rate of 73.1% from 1,260,100 MOT tests, with a reliability score of 43. The current pool shows an average of 75,248 miles and an average age of 12.6 years, while mature-fleet mileage is estimated at 84,255 miles. Petrol leads the fuel split, followed by diesel, and the most frequent defect themes are lighting, windscreen damage and tyre condition. The practical read is that the Citroen C3 deserves a careful inspection before buying, because condition and maintenance appear to matter more than the badge.

Fuel type breakdown (by model)

Fuel	Vehicles
PETROL	101,315
DIESEL	56,851
ELECTRIC	130
LPG	3
OTHER	3
HYBRID ELECTRIC (CLEAN)	1

Euro NCAP Safety

NCAP rating

4 / 5

Adult

88%

Children

83%

Pedestrian

59%

Safety systems

58%

Top 25 most common defects (by model)

Defect	Count
Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))	19,507
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))	19,136
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))	16,451
Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))	15,370
Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))	12,990
Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))	12,745
Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))	12,492
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))	12,480
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))	11,351
Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))	11,028
Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))	10,418
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))	10,165
Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))	10,153
Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))	9,749
Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))	9,658
Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))	9,513
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))	9,184
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))	9,141
Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))	8,918
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))	8,607
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))	8,549
Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))	8,423
Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))	8,421
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))	8,222
Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))	8,106

All 25 defects ranked by recorded countShowing 280,777 defects across this top 25 set

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

19,507

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

19,136

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

16,451

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

15,370

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

12,990

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

12,745

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

12,492

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

12,480

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))

11,351

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

11,028

Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

10,418

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))

10,165

Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

10,153

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

9,749

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

9,658

Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

9,513

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

9,184

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

9,141

Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

8,918

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

8,607

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

8,549

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

8,423

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

8,421

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

8,222

Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

8,106

Citroen C3 reliability and MOT data