Citroen C3 Picasso years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

5,250 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2016–2017 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

All 2 Citroen C3 Picasso years have MOT pass rates below the average for vehicles first used in the same year.

Below the average for their first-use year2016–2017
Above the average for their first-use yearNone
Can't be told apart from averageNone

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

69.2%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 68.0% to 70.5%.

Citroen C3 Picasso, all years69.2%
Same-age average, all vehicles76.9%

In 2025, 69.2% of the 5,250 initial MOT tests on Citroen C3 Picasso cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 76.9%. That is 7.7 points below the same-age average.

Check a specific C3 Picasso

Its own MOT history, free.

Citroen C3 Picasso MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Chart	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2017age 8		3,24646,000	70.2%±1.6	−8.0 ptsall: 78.2%
2016age 9		2,00448,500	67.6%±2.1	−7.3 ptsall: 74.9%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Does mileage matter?

Citroen C3 Picasso first-time pass rates by the mileage at the initial test, all years together, against all vehicles of the same age and mileage.

78.0% of Citroen C3 Picasso tests under 30,000 miles passed first time, against 63.2% at 60,000 to 89,999 miles. For all vehicles of the same age and mileage, the figures are 87.2% and 74.6%.

Miles at the test	Tests	Passed first time	Against all vehicles, same age and mileage
Under 30,000	1,018	78.0%±2.7	−9.2 ptsall: 87.2%
30,000–59,999	2,698	70.1%±1.8	−9.7 ptsall: 79.8%
60,000–89,999	1,222	63.2%±2.8	−11.5 ptsall: 74.6%

Against all vehicles of the same age and mileage, C3 Picasso tests were below average in every band shown.

Mileage is only one factor. How a car has been driven and looked after matters too. These figures show an association across all Citroen C3 Picasso tests in 2025, not what mileage does to a particular car.

Mileage is the odometer reading at the initial test. Each band is compared with all vehicles first used in the same year with a reading in the same band, weighted by this model's own tests in each year. Bands need at least 1,000 tests. Not shown, with fewer than 1,000 tests: 90,000–119,999 and 120,000 or more. 1 test (under 0.1%) had no usable odometer reading and is left out. How we count

Common C3 Picasso problems at the MOT

Share of the 1,616 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these add up to more than 100%.

Lights and electrics46.9%
Body, chassis, structure24.9%
Tyres23.5%
Brakes17.0%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors14.3%
Suspension10.2%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.

What to check when viewing a C3 Picasso

Based on the areas where Citroen C3 Picasso MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Lights and electrics
In 46.9% of failed C3 Picasso tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Body, chassis, structure
In 24.9% of failed C3 Picasso tests
- Look for rust or damage under the sills, around the wheel arches and on the floor where you can see it.
- Open and close every door, the bonnet and the boot. They should latch properly.
- Check the seats are secure and adjust properly.
Tyres
In 23.5% of failed C3 Picasso tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.
Brakes
In 17.0% of failed C3 Picasso tests
- On a clear road, brake firmly. The car should stop in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a C3 Picasso's MOT history

Citroen C3 Picasso questions

Which Citroen C3 Picasso years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, these model years have below-average MOT pass rates: 2016–2017. None is clearly above average. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Citroen C3 Picasso reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 69.2% of initial MOT tests on Citroen C3 Picasso cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 76.9%. That is 7.7 points below average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common Citroen C3 Picasso problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are lights and electrics (in 46.9% of failed tests), body, chassis, structure (in 24.9% of failed tests) and tyres (in 23.5% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 8-year-old Citroen C3 Picasso?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Citroen C3 Picasso cars first used in 2017, about 8 years old, had a median of 46,000 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific C3 Picasso's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Citroen C3 Picasso

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Citroen models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 18 Citroen models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Citroen C3 Picasso cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count