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Reliability
Are Citroens reliable? Common problems, MOT data, and full history checks for used Citroen vehicles.
63.0% MOT pass rate based on 943,000 tests.
Common faults and reliability ranked across 17 Citroen models.
Full vehicle history checks for £9.99 with no subscription.
Citroen Vehicle Check
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- ✓Outstanding finance check
- ✓Stolen marker check
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- ✓Full MOT history and mileage
- ✓Safety recall check
- ✓Vehicle valuation
Are Citroen cars reliable?
Citroen vs other premium brands
Citroen vehicles pass their MOT at 63.0%, almost 9 points below the national average of 71.9%. Among French and mainstream peers here, only Renault (62.0%) sits lower. Ford (68.5%), Fiat (67.3%), Peugeot (66.3%), and Vauxhall (65.4%) all outperform Citroen.
The Citroen range is dominated by the C3, Berlingo, C1, and C4, which together account for around 60% of all Citroen MOT tests in Great Britain. All four sit below the national average. The C3 Aircross is the standout at 81%, but it sits at much lower volume than the older models.
Reliability data shows part of the picture. A vehicle history check reveals the rest, including outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, and mileage discrepancies.
What is the Citroen MOT pass rate by age?
Pass rate at each vehicle age, from 3 to 20 years old. National average shown for comparison.
Citroen pass rates sit below the national average at every age from 3 through 20. At age 3, Citroens pass at 81.9% vs 87.5% nationally, a gap that persists as vehicles age. By age 6, Citroens pass at 74.4% vs 81.6%, and at age 10 the gap is 59.8% vs 69.7%.
The middle-age drop-off is steep. At age 12, only 55.4% of Citroens pass first time vs 64.1% nationally. By age 16 the gap is 50.4% vs 56.9%, and by age 20 it is 50.6% vs 56.9%. Citroens show below-average reliability across the whole life curve.
What are the most common Citroen faults?
Top 10 MOT failure categories for Citroen, ranked by the share of failed tests they were found on. National percentage shown alongside.
Top 5 specific Citroen failure reasons
These are the specific MOT examiner findings most frequently recorded on Citroen vehicles, along with what they mean.
- Not working (found on 27.15% of failed Citroen tests)
A lamp, indicator, or electrical component that has completely stopped functioning. Usually a blown bulb or faulty sensor.
- Constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (found on 12.83% of failed Citroen tests)
- Fractured or broken (found on 8.83% of failed Citroen tests)
A suspension arm, spring, or bracket has snapped or cracked. The affected part must be replaced before the vehicle is roadworthy.
- Ball joint excessively worn (found on 8.55% of failed Citroen tests)
A suspension ball joint has developed too much play. Affects steering feel and handling; needs replacement.
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (found on 7.92% of failed Citroen tests)
One or more tyres worn below the legal minimum tread depth. The legal limit is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.
Citroen's failure profile shows two clear tilts. Lamps and electrical equipment faults are found on 49.0% of failed tests vs 38.2% nationally, driven by ageing bulbs and wiring on older Berlingo, C3, and C1 models. Body, chassis, and structure failures are found on 21.3% of failed tests vs 11.9% nationally, which may point to corrosion on older Xsara cars and Berlingo and Dispatch vans. Suspension failures at 30.0% sit below the national average of 32.4%.
Which Citroen models are most reliable?
Top 15 Citroen models ranked by MOT test volume. Pass rate shown for each. Green bars beat the national average of 71.9%. Red bars sit below it.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citroen C3 | 165,020 | 62.3% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Citroen Berlingo | 157,705 | 57.0% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Citroen C1 | 152,121 | 68.0% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Citroen C4 | 111,134 | 57.4% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Citroen Ds3 | 65,120 | 51.1% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Citroen Dispatch | 35,549 | 56.6% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Citroen C3 AIRCROSS | 23,763 | 81.4% | Body, chassis, structure |
| Citroen C4 CACTUS | 20,240 | 69.6% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Citroen Xsara | 18,746 | 50.5% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Citroen C5 | 17,874 | 72.8% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Citroen C4 GRAND PICASSO | 13,457 | 64.1% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Citroen Relay | 12,587 | 62.0% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Citroen Nemo | 11,882 | 56.4% | Suspension |
| Citroen Ds4 | 9,121 | 54.0% | Suspension |
| Citroen C2 | 7,844 | 52.1% | Suspension |
The C3 Aircross SUV leads at 81.4%. It is one of only two volume Citroens to pass above national, along with the C5 (72.8%). The C4 Cactus (69.6%) and C1 (68.0%) sit comfortably above the brand average. The high-volume C3 (62.3%) and C4 (57.4%) trail below, and older models like the Berlingo van (57.0%), Dispatch van (56.6%), DS3 (51.1%), and Xsara (50.5%) pull the low end.
How many miles do Citroen vehicles typically cover?
Average recorded mileage at each MOT test, by vehicle age. National average shown for comparison.
Citroen mileage tracks very close to the national average through the vehicle's life. At age 3, Citroens average 35,000 miles vs 34,000 nationally. At age 10, 81,000 vs 83,000. From age 15 onward Citroens sit slightly below the national mean: 101,000 vs 103,000 at age 15, and 101,000 vs 109,000 at age 20.
Our Premium Vehicle Reports compare the recorded mileage at every MOT test to flag discrepancies. A drop in recorded mileage between two tests is a strong signal that the odometer may have been tampered with.
Are there any Citroen safety recalls?
Safety recalls are issued by Citroen when a manufacturing defect could affect the safety of the vehicle. The DVSA records every UK recall and links it to affected vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Recalls are free for the owner to have fixed at a franchised dealer.
Recall lists change over time as new issues are identified and old ones are resolved. For that reason we do not maintain a static list here. When you check a Citroen via Brumble, the report shows any outstanding manufacturer safety recalls that still need action on that specific vehicle.
How do you check a Citroen's full history?
Before you buy any used Citroen, a full history check protects you from problems that a physical inspection would miss. Here is what a Premium Vehicle Report from Brumble covers.
Has this Citroen been written off?
An insurance write-off means the car has been declared uneconomical to repair after an accident, fire, or flood. The report shows the category (Cat A, B, N, or S), the date, and the cause. Cat A and B are permanently unroadworthy. Cat N and S can legally return to the road but often carry hidden damage and are worth significantly less.
Is there outstanding finance on this Citroen?
If the previous owner has an active HP, PCP, or loan agreement secured against the car, the finance company legally owns it until the balance is paid off. Buying a car with outstanding finance means the finance company can repossess it, even after you have paid the seller in full. The report checks with Experian for any active finance agreements.
Has this Citroen been reported stolen?
The Police National Computer records stolen vehicles. The report checks the PNC for any active stolen marker. Buying a stolen vehicle means the police can seize it and return it to the rightful owner, with no compensation.
Has the mileage been tampered with?
Every MOT test records the current mileage. The report shows the full mileage history from every recorded test and flags any drops or unusually flat periods. A drop between tests is a strong signal the odometer has been clocked. A car worth £15,000 with 60,000 miles on the clock might be worth £10,000 if the true mileage is 120,000.
Has this Citroen been used as a taxi or private hire vehicle?
Ex-taxis and private hire vehicles have typically covered high mileage under harder use than a private car of the same age. Insurers may view them as higher risk, and resale value is significantly lower. The report checks whether the vehicle has ever been registered as a taxi or private hire vehicle.
What is this Citroen worth?
The report includes current trade, retail, and private-sale valuations based on the vehicle's make, model, trim, mileage, and condition. Use it to check whether the asking price is fair before you negotiate.
Check any Citroen's full history for £9.99. No subscription.
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What should you check before buying a used Citroen?
Four practical steps before you hand over any money.
- 1
Check the MOT history
Every UK vehicle has a free MOT test history showing every pass, fail, advisory, and recorded mileage. Use the Brumble MOT checker to see what previous inspections found.
- 2
Check the vehicle's full history
A Premium Vehicle Report covers outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, mileage discrepancies, safety recalls, and valuation. £9.99, no subscription.
- 3
Compare insurance before you commit
Citroen insurance groups vary widely by model and trim. Get a car insurance quote before you buy to avoid nasty surprises after the sale.
- 4
Check the tax status
Confirm the car is currently taxed, or you may not be able to drive it away. The Brumble tax checker shows current tax status and when tax is next due.
Citroen Reliability FAQs
Source: Brumble analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test data, 2025, Great Britain (published June 2026). First MOT test of the year for each class 4 vehicle, with 5,000+ tests per model. Published under Open Government Licence v3.0.