2005 Citroen C3 MOT pass rate: 59.3% (12,288 tests)
Is the 2005 C3 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2005-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 59.6% -4.5 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 58.8% -5.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 59.3% -6.0 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2005 C3
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5,914 | 32.2% |
| 2 | Suspension | 4,181 | 22.7% |
| 3 | Brakes | 1,895 | 10.3% |
| 4 | Body, chassis, structure | 1,793 | 9.8% |
| 5 | Tyres | 1,337 | 7.3% |
| 6 | Visibility | 1,159 | 6.3% |
All C3 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 2,849 | 57.8% | -7.8 pts | 86,618 |
| 2003 | 7,978 | 57.3% | -7.7 pts | 81,600 |
| 2004 | 9,942 | 59.2% | -5.1 pts | 78,801 |
| 2005 (this page) | 12,288 | 59.3% | -5.2 pts | 80,137 |
| 2006 | 14,179 | 61.1% | -3.3 pts | 77,116 |
| 2007 | 15,930 | 60.6% | -4.5 pts | 77,893 |
| 2008 | 14,616 | 59.6% | -5.5 pts | 76,887 |
| 2009 | 28,077 | 60.1% | -6.3 pts | 86,124 |
| 2010 | 54,187 | 60.3% | -7.1 pts | 87,558 |
| 2011 | 45,554 | 62.6% | -6.6 pts | 82,008 |
| 2012 | 44,206 | 65.7% | -5.6 pts | 73,336 |
| 2013 | 40,006 | 68.8% | -4.5 pts | 67,137 |
| 2014 | 41,070 | 71.9% | -4.0 pts | 57,697 |
| 2015 | 36,171 | 75.4% | -3.4 pts | 52,174 |
| 2016 | 26,211 | 77.4% | -3.9 pts | 44,663 |
| 2017 | 46,131 | 81.0% | -3.0 pts | 44,690 |
| 2018 | 46,120 | 85.0% | -1.4 pts | 38,422 |
| 2019 | 39,579 | 88.7% | +0.3 pts | 31,130 |
| 2020 | 14,384 | 91.7% | +1.8 pts | 24,704 |
| 2021 | 1,659 | 93.7% | +3.3 pts | 24,054 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Citroen C3 years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2005 Citroen C3 reliable?
2005-registered examples passed 59.3% of their MOT tests (12,288 tests, 2023–2025), -5.2 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 21 years old with a median 80,137 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2005 C3?
The median tested example shows 80,137 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.