2018 Citroen C3 Aircross — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 53,536 MOT tests analysed for the 2018 Citroen C3 Aircross, the most common recorded failure areas were body, structure & corrosion, brakes and tyres. Its pass rate of 88.8% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (89.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 19.9% in the 90-120k group versus 7.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 2,044 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.6% | 1,945 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.6% | 1,921 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 1,392 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.6% | 879 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.0% | 515 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 1,694 |
| 2 | Brake discs | 1,263 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,098 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 991 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 815 |
| 6 | Washers | 706 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.1% | 13,991 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.3% | 13,560 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.1% | 3,279 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 3,152 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.6% | 1,420 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.3% | 714 |
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 | 26,944 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 22,530 | 14.5% |
| 60-90k | 3,694 | 19.0% |
| 90-120k | 316 | 19.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 49,441 | 11.2% |
| Diesel | 4,095 | 11.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,444 | 6.6% |
| 2022 | 10,467 | 8.4% |
| 2023 | 10,685 | 11.1% |
| 2024 | 10,853 | 14.2% |
| 2025 | 11,087 | 15.6% |
What to check before buying a 2018 C3 Aircross
Before buying a 2018 Citroen C3 Aircross, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Body, structure & corrosion accounted for 3.8% of tests for this year.
- Body, structure & corrosion (3.8% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Brakes (3.6% 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.
- Tyres (3.6% 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.
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 2018 Citroen C3 Aircrosss pass their MOT?
88.8% of the 53,536 2018 Citroen C3 Aircross MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Citroen C3 Aircross?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 3.8% of tests, followed by brakes (3.6%).
Does the 2018 C3 Aircross get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 19.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 53,536 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.