2017 Citroen C3 MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 71.6% of Citroen C3s first used in 2017 passed their MOT first time, against 78.2% for all cars first used in 2017. Across 46,851 C3 first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, body, chassis and structure and tyres.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Citroen C3s first used in 2017 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.
Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026
How the 2017 Citroen C3 MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, C3s first used in 2017 against all cars first used in 2017 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the C3 figure was 6.6 points lower.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2017 C3 | All cars first used 2017 | C3 first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86.3% | 85.9% | 15,688 |
| 2022 | 82.7% | 83.9% | 15,654 |
| 2023 | 79.6% | 81.7% | 15,584 |
| 2024 | 75.1% | 79.8% | 15,657 |
| 2025 | 71.6% | 78.2% | 15,610 |
Common 2017 Citroen C3 MOT failures
Share of the 11,509 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common failure items
| DVSA failure item | Share of failed first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 10.0% | 1,147 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 8.9% | 1,028 |
| Stop lamp: not working | 8.9% | 1,026 |
| Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm | 7.8% | 902 |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | 7.6% | 880 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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What to check on a 2017 Citroen C3 before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
- Body and underside. Worth looking underneath with a torch at the sills, floor and mountings for corrosion, and at the rubber boots on the drive shafts for splits.
- Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
Common 2017 Citroen C3 MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2017 C3s, as a share of all 46,851 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | 15.8% | 7,408 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 13.5% | 6,317 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 12.0% | 5,614 |
| Exhaust system: mounting defective | 7.8% | 3,658 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 6.0% | 2,823 |
Questions about the 2017 Citroen C3 MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2017 Citroen C3?
In 2025, 71.6% of C3s first used in 2017 passed their MOT first time, against 78.2% for all cars first used in 2017. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2017 C3 most often fail its MOT on?
Lamps and electrical equipment (in 42.3% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), body, chassis and structure (20.4%) and tyres (19.4%). The single most common item was “Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” (10.0%).
How often does a 2017 Citroen C3 fail its MOT?
In 2025, 28.4% of first tests on C3s first used in 2017 did not pass first time: 22.2% failed, and a further 6.2% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 11,509 of 46,851 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2017 Citroen C3 MOT advisories?
“Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (on 15.8% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (13.5%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (12.0%), “Exhaust system: mounting defective” (7.8%) and “Brake pads: wearing thin” (6.0%).
Is a 2017 Citroen C3 reliable?
An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 86.3% in 2021 to 71.6% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2017
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2017 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2017 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2017 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2017 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics · 2017 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2017 C3?
The numbers above cover every C3 first used in 2017 and tested in Great Britain. Our free check shows the actual MOT history, mileage record and tax status of the one you are looking at.
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