Diesel Citroen C3 Picasso: MOT pass rate

76% of diesel Citroen C3 Picassos pass the MOT first time, measured across 4,270 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 55,305.

Diesel against the other Citroen C3 Picasso versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Citroen C3 Picasso specifically, petrol is the strongest at 80.4%, and this diesel version sits 1.6 points below the 77.6% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Citroen C3 Picasso fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Citroen C3 Picasso had covered 55,305 miles at test, against 41,559 for the petrol. That is around average, so condition and service history will tell you more than the odometer does.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Citroen C3 Picasso page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Citroen C3 Picasso

1. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 7% of tests (4.55x the national rate for this defect)
2. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.3% of tests (2.46x the national rate for this defect)
3. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1.9% of tests (2.45x the national rate for this defect)
4. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 1.3% of tests (2.26x the national rate for this defect)
5. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.5% of tests (1.6x the national rate for this defect)
6. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 1.6% of tests (1.57x the national rate for this defect)
7. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 1.9% of tests (1.53x the national rate for this defect)
8. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.2% of tests (1.33x the national rate for this defect)
9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2% of tests (1.17x the national rate for this defect)
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 2.4% of tests

From 4,159 DVSA-tracked diesel Citroen C3 Picasso tests, 2024, split out from the Citroen C3 Picasso's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 5.3% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Citroen C3 Picasso

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 6.1% of tests (4.48x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 11.9% of tests (4.17x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 3% of tests (2.84x the national rate for this defect)
4. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 30.7% of tests (2.5x the national rate for this defect)
5. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 7.9% of tests (2.48x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.1% of tests (1.56x the national rate for this defect)
7. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 1.8% of tests (1.44x the national rate for this defect)
8. A tyre seriously damaged, 18.9% of tests (1.22x the national rate for this defect), also fails
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 26.4% of tests
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 10.1% of tests, also fails

From 4,159 DVSA-tracked diesel Citroen C3 Picasso tests, 2024.

Other Citroen C3 Picasso fuel types

• Petrol Citroen C3 Picasso - 80.4%

All Citroen C3 Picasso MOT data · Every model