Citroen C3 Picasso
From 10,233 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer C3 Picassos fare better: 2017 models pass at 77.2% vs 73.3% for 2016.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a tyre seriously damaged, stop lamp missing and inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. The top issue, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, caused 388 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 388 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 306 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 210 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 147 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 140 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 134 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 133 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 132 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 132 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 129 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 21% of C3 Picasso failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 39.2% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £93.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 77.2% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2016 | 73.3% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2015 | 80.4% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2014 | 70.2% | a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources, stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
5 earlier years
| 2013 | 75.1% | a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2012 | 70.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2011 | 66.8% | a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2010 | 61.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2009 | 63.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources |
Typical mileage
Half of all C3 Picassos tested had between 25,838 and 55,160 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 39,598 median miles, the C3 Picasso has 0.064 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Citroen models
| Citroen C3 | 71.4% |
| Citroen Berlingo | 67.9% |
| Citroen C4 | 68.9% |
| Citroen C1 | 74.9% |
| Citroen Ds3 | 66.5% |
Common questions
What is the Citroen C3 Picasso MOT pass rate?
The Citroen C3 Picasso has a 74.8% MOT pass rate based on 10,233 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Citroen C3 Picasso?
The most common MOT failure on the Citroen C3 Picasso is a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, which caused 388 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
What is the typical mileage of a Citroen C3 Picasso at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Citroen C3 Picasso is 39,598 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 25,838 and 55,160 miles.
Buying a used C3 Picasso?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 74.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £93 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.