2021 Citroen C3 Shine Puretech S/S — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,689 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Citroen C3 Shine Puretech S/S, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes. Its pass rate of 93.2% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 31.6% in the 90-120k group versus 5.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 423 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.3% | 274 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.1% | 250 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.2% | 140 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 106 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 49 |
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 | 210 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 156 |
| 3 | Brake discs | 139 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 129 |
| 5 | Washers | 93 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 81 |
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 | 16.9% | 1,971 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.4% | 1,796 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.3% | 624 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.8% | 321 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 135 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.0% | 114 |
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 | 7,787 | 5.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,548 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 308 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 38 | 31.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 240 | 3.3% |
| 2024 | 5,713 | 6.5% |
| 2025 | 5,731 | 7.2% |
What to check before buying a 2021 C3 Shine Puretech S/S
Before buying a 2021 Citroen C3 Shine Puretech S/S, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 3.6% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (3.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.3% 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 (2.1% 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/Ss pass their MOT?
93.2% of the 11,689 2021 Citroen C3 Shine Puretech S/S MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Citroen C3 Shine Puretech S/S?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by tyres (2.3%).
Does the 2021 C3 Shine Puretech S/S get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.0% in the 0-30k band to 31.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,689 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.