2010 · 14 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2010 Citroen C3 MOT pass rate and common faults

17,920 MOT tests in 2024. 51.5% passed first time, compared with 59.6% for all cars the same age.

86Well below average
Passed first time51.5%
Failed or needed repairs48.5%
Typical mileage at test88,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 17,920 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play7.3%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.0%
  3. Position lamp: not working5.6%
  4. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt5.5%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn5.2%
  6. Stop lamp: not working4.3%
  7. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.5%
    951 marked dangerous
  8. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps2.8%
  9. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.6%
  10. Washers: not working2.6%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics34.7%
  2. Suspension24.9%
  3. Brakes14.7%
  4. Body & chassis12.1%
  5. Tyres8.9%
  6. Steering8.8%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.6%
  8. Emissions & leaks7.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.8%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened17.5%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine16.7%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure11.3%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.7%

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: track rod end: ball joint has excessive play. 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 2010 Citroen C3?

In 2024, 51.5% of 2010 Citroen C3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 17,920 tests. The average for all 14-year-old cars was 59.6%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2010 Citroen C3?

The most common failure reasons were track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; coil spring: fractured or broken; position lamp: not working. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2010 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).