Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 2,305 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 24.4%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus MOT Reliability Overview
The Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,305 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 75.6% and a failure rate of 24.4%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus presents for MOT with approximately 30,287 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2012 models achieve the highest pass rate at 76.8%, while 2009 models have the lowest at 69.6%. This 7.2 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 16.5% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Brakes at 14.4%. Tyres rounds out the top three at 13.1%. 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
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* 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.
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| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 16.9% | 389 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.6% | 336 |
| 3 | Tyres | 13.3% | 307 |
| 4 | Driver's View Of The Road | 12.1% | 279 |
| 5 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 6.6% | 151 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.1% | 48 |
| 7 | Non-component Advisories | 0.7% | 16 |
| 8 | Steering | 0.4% | 9 |
| 9 | Registration Plates And Vin | 0.3% | 6 |
| 10 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.3% | 6 |
| 11 | Body, Structure And General Items | 0.1% | 3 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 30,287 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 5.57 | 16.9% | 389 |
| Brakes | 4.81 | 14.6% | 336 |
| Tyres | 4.40 | 13.3% | 307 |
| Visibility | 4.00 | 12.1% | 279 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 2.16 | 6.6% | 151 |
| Suspension | 0.69 | 2.1% | 48 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.23 | 0.7% | 16 |
| Steering | 0.13 | 0.4% | 9 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.09 | 0.3% | 6 |
| Seat Belts | 0.09 | 0.3% | 6 |
| Body & Structure | 0.04 | 0.1% | 3 |
| Wheels | 0.01 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.01 | 0.0% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus has 30,287 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 Picasso Vtr Plus has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 8.06% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus MOT Data
The Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,305 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 75.6% and a failure rate of 24.4%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and brakes 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 Picasso Vtr Plus is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 16.5% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 16.5% of MOT failures on the Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Brakes — 14.4% of failures
Brakes issues account for 14.4% of MOT failures on the Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus. 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 — 13.1% of failures
Tyres issues account for 13.1% of MOT failures on the Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus?
Based on 2,305 MOT tests in our database, the Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus has an overall pass rate of 75.6% (24.4% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus?
The top 3 reasons a Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (16.5%), 2. Brakes (14.4%), 3. Tyres (13.1%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus reliable?
With a 24.4% MOT failure rate, the C3 Picasso Vtr Plus is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Citroen C3 Picasso Vtr Plus?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (16.5%); Brakes (14.4%); Tyres (13.1%). 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.