MOT performance
Citroen MOT pass rates and common failures
Across 2,048,777 MOT tests of Citroen cars in 2023–2024, 63.0% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Citroens failed 26% more often than comparable cars. Of the 13 Citroen models with enough tests, the Citroen C1 failed least often relative to comparable cars.
2,048,777 MOT tests on 1,070,117 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 63.0% | ±0.1 pts (95%), n = 2,048,777 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.26× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 9.2% | n = 2,048,777 |
| Average age at test | 9.8 years | n = 2,048,777 |
Citroen models
Every Citroen model with at least 10,000 tests, most-tested first.
| Model | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citroen C3 | 404,896 | 65.0% | 1.26× |
| Citroen Berlingo | 377,776 | 58.6% | 1.38× |
| Citroen C4 | 364,993 | 63.3% | 1.33× |
| Citroen C1 | 337,344 | 70.1% | 1.02× |
| Citroen DS3 | 146,860 | 52.4% | 1.47× |
| Citroen Dispatch | 95,578 | 59.0% | 1.35× |
| Citroen Xsara | 61,243 | 50.0% | 1.16× |
| Citroen C3 Aircross | 54,618 | 85.7% | 1.06× |
| Citroen C5 | 42,756 | 73.2% | 1.09× |
| Citroen Nemo | 29,417 | 57.6% | 1.22× |
| Citroen Relay | 29,324 | 63.9% | 1.13× |
| Citroen C2 | 24,689 | 52.1% | 1.16× |
| Citroen DS4 | 20,814 | 56.3% | 1.34× |
Where Citroens fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 18.1% | +58% |
| Suspension | 10.5% | +12% |
| Brakes | 8.3% | +18% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 7.9% | +124% |
| Tyres | 7.1% | +10% |
| Driver's view of the road | 6.4% | +34% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.8% | +23% |
| Steering | 2.8% | +40% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.6% | +59% |
| Road wheels | 0.3% | -25% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.3% | -24% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | -12% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | Body, chassis and structure | 4.61% |
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 4.61% |
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.96% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 3.21% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 3.13% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.87% |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.75% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 2.53% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 2.19% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.99% |
Pass rate by age
| Age at test (years) | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 217,683 | 81.0% | +30% |
| 5-6 | 259,007 | 74.0% | +40% |
| 7-8 | 335,063 | 66.3% | +40% |
| 9-10 | 340,419 | 59.6% | +33% |
| 11-12 | 273,138 | 55.7% | +24% |
| 13-15 | 303,329 | 52.5% | +17% |
| 16+ | 252,282 | 51.6% | +15% |
MOT failures where Citroen stands out
Individual failure items that Citroens record clearly more or less often than cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. All Citroen MOT failure patterns.
- Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt · 3.08× comparable cars
- Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps · 2.41× comparable cars
- Stop lamp: not working · 1.95× comparable cars
- Position lamp: not working · 1.74× comparable cars
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam · 1.89× comparable cars
- Washers: not working · 1.82× comparable cars
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play · 1.59× comparable cars
Check a specific Citroen
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.