2021 Citroen C3 Shine Puretech S/S Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,008 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Citroen C3 Shine Puretech S/S Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes. Its pass rate of 94.0% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 52 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.5% | 50 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.3% | 46 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.8% | 16 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 8 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake discs | 36 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 17 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 16 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 13 |
| 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 | 18.2% | 366 |
| 2 | Tyres | 13.4% | 268 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.5% | 110 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.1% | 21 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 16 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 15 |
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 | 1,415 | 4.2% |
| 30-60k | 567 | 10.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 39 | 2.6% |
| 2024 | 973 | 5.3% |
| 2025 | 995 | 6.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 C3 Shine Puretech S/S Auto
Before buying a 2021 Citroen C3 Shine Puretech S/S Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 2.6% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (2.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.5% 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 (2.3% 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 2021 Citroen C3 Shine Puretech S/S Autos pass their MOT?
94.0% of the 2,008 2021 Citroen C3 Shine Puretech S/S Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Citroen C3 Shine Puretech S/S Auto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 2.6% of tests, followed by tyres (2.5%).
Does the 2021 C3 Shine Puretech S/S Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.2% in the 0-30k band to 10.2% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,008 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.