2020 Citroen C3 Flair + Puretech S/S Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,345 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Citroen C3 Flair + Puretech S/S Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes. Its pass rate of 93.4% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 15.4% in the 60-90k group versus 5.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 87 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.2% | 75 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.7% | 40 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.0% | 23 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 10 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 44 |
| 2 | Side repeaters | 24 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 24 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 23 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 17 |
| 6 | Washers | 11 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 19.1% | 449 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.8% | 370 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.7% | 111 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 39 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 33 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 29 |
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 | 1,914 | 5.1% |
| 30-60k | 374 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 52 | 15.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 800 | 6.5% |
| 2024 | 747 | 6.0% |
| 2025 | 769 | 7.4% |
What to check before buying a 2020 C3 Flair + Puretech S/S Auto
Before buying a 2020 Citroen C3 Flair + Puretech S/S Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 3.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (3.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.2% 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.
- Brakes (1.7% 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.
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 2020 Citroen C3 Flair + Puretech S/S Autos pass their MOT?
93.4% of the 2,345 2020 Citroen C3 Flair + Puretech S/S Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Citroen C3 Flair + Puretech S/S Auto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by tyres (3.2%).
Does the 2020 C3 Flair + Puretech S/S Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.1% in the 0-30k band to 15.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,345 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.