2018 Citroen C3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 87,194 MOT tests analysed for the 2018 Citroen C3, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes. Its pass rate of 89.1% was in line with the average for superminis of a similar age (88.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 24.4% in the 150k+ group versus 6.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 4,955 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.9% | 3,378 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.5% | 2,191 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.2% | 1,890 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 1,430 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 1,358 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 2,171 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,057 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 1,430 |
| 4 | Brake discs | 1,239 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 1,211 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,207 |
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 | 24.2% | 21,063 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.8% | 15,479 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.2% | 6,304 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 4,861 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.8% | 4,184 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 3,105 |
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 | 39,310 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 38,588 | 13.1% |
| 60-90k | 7,900 | 20.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,184 | 23.6% |
| 120-150k | 163 | 23.3% |
| 150k+ | 41 | 24.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 78,750 | 10.6% |
| Diesel | 8,444 | 13.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,939 | 6.6% |
| 2022 | 17,107 | 8.2% |
| 2023 | 17,390 | 10.7% |
| 2024 | 17,913 | 13.4% |
| 2025 | 17,845 | 15.4% |
What to check before buying a 2018 C3
Before buying a 2018 Citroen C3, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 5.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (5.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.9% 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 (2.5% 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 2018 Citroen C3s pass their MOT?
89.1% of the 87,194 2018 Citroen C3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Citroen C3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by tyres (3.9%).
Does the 2018 C3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 24.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 87,194 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.