Citroen C3 Aircross MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 82,409 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 12.9%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Citroen C3 Aircross MOT Reliability Overview
The Citroen C3 Aircross is a moderately popular vehicle in the UK, with 82,409 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 5 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.1% and a failure rate of 12.9%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Citroen C3 Aircross earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Citroen C3 Aircross presents for MOT with approximately 27,620 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2021 models achieve the highest pass rate at 90.0%, while 2017 models have the lowest at 85.2%. This 4.8 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Citroen C3 Aircross is Brakes, affecting 15.2% of all tests. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. The second most common issue is Tyres at 12.6%. Body, chassis, structure rounds out the top three at 3.8%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
All manufacture years perform similarly at ~90.5%.
Based on 2024 MOT test results only — the most recent data available. "Built" = year of manufacture. Cars need their first MOT at 3 years old, so the newest cars shown are from ~3 years ago.
Bar chart showing pass rate by manufacture year from 2017 to 2021
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Tracking how each manufacture year's MOT pass rate changes as the car ages. Showing 4 vintages — click year chips to highlight.
Multi-line chart showing how different Citroen C3 Aircross vintages degrade over time, from age 2 to 20 years.
Only vintages with 100+ tests in at least 3 different test years are shown. Fleet average is the UK-wide pass rate for all cars at each age.
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Citroen C3 Aircross. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 3 to 7 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Citroen C3 Aircross sees a significant jump in MOT failures after the warranty period. Failure rate increases by 52% once warranty cover ends. Budget for increased maintenance costs from year 4 onwards. Peak failure occurs at age 7 (20.8% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.2% | 12,493 |
| 2 | Tyres | 12.6% | 10,348 |
| 3 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 3.8% | 3,118 |
| 4 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 3.1% | 2,534 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 1,496 |
| 6 | Non-component Advisories | 1.3% | 1,031 |
| 7 | Suspension | 1.0% | 847 |
| 8 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.9% | 708 |
| 9 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.4% | 310 |
| 10 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.2% | 182 |
| 11 | Steering | 0.1% | 65 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 27,620 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 5.49 | 15.2% | 12,493 |
| Tyres | 4.55 | 12.6% | 10,348 |
| Body & Structure | 1.37 | 3.8% | 3,118 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 1.11 | 3.1% | 2,534 |
| Visibility | 0.66 | 1.8% | 1,496 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.45 | 1.3% | 1,031 |
| Suspension | 0.37 | 1.0% | 847 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.31 | 0.9% | 708 |
| Seat Belts | 0.14 | 0.4% | 310 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.08 | 0.2% | 182 |
| Steering | 0.03 | 0.1% | 65 |
| Wheels | 0.01 | 0.0% | 27 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Citroen C3 Aircross has 27,620 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Citroen C3 Aircross has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.67% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Citroen C3 Aircross MOT Data
The Citroen C3 Aircross is a moderately popular vehicle in the UK, with 82,409 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 5 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.1% and a failure rate of 12.9%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Citroen C3 Aircross owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and tyres for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific C3 Aircross is likely to perform.
Brakes — 15.2% of failures
Brakes issues account for 15.2% of MOT failures on the Citroen C3 Aircross. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Tyres — 12.6% of failures
Tyres issues account for 12.6% of MOT failures on the Citroen C3 Aircross. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Body, chassis, structure — 3.8% of failures
Body, chassis, structure issues account for 3.8% of MOT failures on the Citroen C3 Aircross. Body and structure failures include excessive corrosion, sharp edges, loose panels, and damage to the vehicle frame. Rust is the primary concern, especially on older vehicles or those exposed to road salt. Typical repair costs: £100–500+. Pre-MOT check: Inspect sills, wheel arches, door bottoms, and the chassis for rust. Surface rust is acceptable but structural corrosion or holes will fail. Check that all doors, bonnet, and boot close securely.
Compare Citroen C3 Aircross
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Citroen C3 Aircross?
Based on 82,409 MOT tests in our database, the Citroen C3 Aircross has an overall pass rate of 87.1% (12.9% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Citroen C3 Aircross?
The top 3 reasons a Citroen C3 Aircross fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (15.2%), 2. Tyres (12.6%), 3. Body, chassis, structure (3.8%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Citroen C3 Aircross reliable?
With a 12.9% MOT failure rate, the C3 Aircross is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Citroen C3 Aircross?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (15.2%); Tyres (12.6%); Body, chassis, structure (3.8%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.