Common problems

Citroen common problems by model

18 Citroen models, each at its most tested age: the part area MOT testers fail most often, against all cars of the same age. From 3,680,753 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025. Open a model for every area, the items behind it and what to check on a viewing.

MOT data updated 28 September 2026

Citroen models with at least 3 ages of 1,000 or more MOT tests. Fails per 100 MOTs in the most common area.
Model	Age	Tests (n)	Most common fail area	Per 100	All cars
C3	12 years	65,399	Lights and electrics	22.1	15.4
Berlingo	8 years	59,249	Lights and electrics	26.5	7.3
C1	9 years	64,356	Lights and electrics	8.5	9.2
C4	9 years	79,211	Lights and electrics	15.3	9.2
Dispatch	6 years	16,983	Lights and electrics	17.5	4.7
Xsara	17 years	19,686	Lights and electrics	26.1	21.0
C3 Aircross	4 years	28,538	Tyres	3.9	4.7
C4 Grand Picasso	6 years	14,436	Lights and electrics	10.4	4.7
C4 Cactus	6 years	18,697	Lights and electrics	9.9	4.7
C5	3 years	12,614	Tyres	5.9	4.8
Nemo	13 years	7,800	Suspension	21.7	14.9
Relay	8 years	4,990	Lights and electrics	12.5	7.3
C2	16 years	8,883	Suspension	21.1	17.1
C4 Picasso	7 years	6,185	Lights and electrics	8.0	5.8
C3 Picasso	8 years	5,729	Lights and electrics	14.1	7.3
Saxo	21 years	3,552	Lights and electrics	23.1	20.6
Spacetourer	5 years	2,578	Lights and electrics	7.3	3.7
C-Crosser	15 years	1,879	Suspension	22.9	16.7

For how often each model passes or fails its MOT, see Citroen MOT fail rates by model.

Other makes

All makes

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

The all cars figures cover all class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans) tested at the same age.

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Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources