2011 · 13 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2011 Citroen C3 MOT pass rate and common faults

15,088 MOT tests in 2024. 52.9% passed first time, compared with 61.8% for all cars the same age.

86Well below average
Passed first time52.9%
Failed or needed repairs47.1%
Typical mileage at test82,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 15,088 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play7.5%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.8%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn5.5%
  4. Position lamp: not working5.4%
  5. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.7%
  6. Stop lamp: not working4.6%
  7. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.6%
    784 marked dangerous
  8. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.8%
  9. Exhaust system: system insecure2.6%
  10. Washers: not working2.5%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics34.0%
  2. Suspension21.8%
  3. Brakes13.1%
  4. Body & chassis10.8%
  5. Steering9.4%
  6. Tyres8.8%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.4%
  8. Emissions & leaks4.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19.9%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened17.1%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.6%
  4. Exhaust system: system insecure10.6%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure10.5%

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 2011 Citroen C3?

In 2024, 52.9% of 2011 Citroen C3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 15,088 tests. The average for all 13-year-old cars was 61.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2011 Citroen C3?

The most common failure reasons were track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2011 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).