2009 · 15 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2009 Citroen C3 MOT pass rate and common faults

9,309 MOT tests in 2024. 50.4% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

86Well below average
Passed first time50.4%
Failed or needed repairs49.6%
Typical mileage at test87,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 9,309 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt6.6%
  2. Stop lamp: not working6.2%
  3. Position lamp: not working5.9%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn5.7%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.3%
    455 marked dangerous
  6. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.2%
  7. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps3.1%
  8. Washers: not working2.9%
  9. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn2.9%
  10. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.9%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics40.6%
  2. Suspension26.1%
  3. Body & chassis14.2%
  4. Brakes12.7%
  5. Emissions & leaks11.9%
  6. Tyres9.6%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)9.2%
  8. Steering3.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm21.1%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened20.0%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine14.7%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure10.5%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn8.2%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2009 Citroen C3?

In 2024, 50.4% of 2009 Citroen C3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 9,309 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 Citroen C3?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; stop lamp: not working; position lamp: not working. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2009 Citroen C3 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 86, which is well below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).