2021 Citroen C3 Flair + Puretech S/S — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 785 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Citroen C3 Flair + Puretech S/S, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres. Its pass rate of 93.1% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 11.8% in the 60-90k group versus 5.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 29 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.9% | 15 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.4% | 11 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 9 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 7 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.9% | 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 | 16 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 9 |
| 3 | Joints | 8 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 8 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 7 |
| 6 | Washers | 6 |
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 | 15.7% | 123 |
| 2 | Tyres | 14.3% | 112 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.4% | 58 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.9% | 23 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 13 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 6 |
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 | 487 | 5.3% |
| 30-60k | 255 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 34 | 11.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 44 | 9.1% |
| 2024 | 358 | 5.3% |
| 2025 | 383 | 8.1% |
What to check before buying a 2021 C3 Flair + Puretech S/S
Before buying a 2021 Citroen C3 Flair + Puretech S/S, 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.
- Brakes (1.9% 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 (1.4% 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 2021 Citroen C3 Flair + Puretech S/Ss pass their MOT?
93.1% of the 785 2021 Citroen C3 Flair + Puretech S/S MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Citroen C3 Flair + Puretech S/S?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by brakes (1.9%).
Does the 2021 C3 Flair + Puretech S/S get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 0-30k band to 11.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 785 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.