Citroen C3 Picasso Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Citroen C3 Picasso car check
Is the Citroen C3 Picasso reliable? We analysed 62,879 real MOT tests across 6,707 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Citroen C3 Picasso? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Citroen C3 Picasso is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Citroen C3 Picasso.
Citroen C3 Picasso Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Citroen C3 Picasso. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Citroen C3 Picasso MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Citroen C3 Picasso to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Citroen C3 Picasso Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Citroen C3 Picasso models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Citroen C3 Picasso Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Citroen C3 Picasso owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Citroen C3 Picasso MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Citroen C3 Picasso year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 160 | 81.9% | 33,149 | 45,508 | 60,003 |
| 2017 | 26,783 | 81.1% | 20,830 | 32,293 | 47,456 |
| 2016 | 18,066 | 80.3% | 21,462 | 33,345 | 49,129 |
| 2015 | 2,793 | 79.2% | 22,991 | 37,037 | 55,596 |
| 2014 | 2,643 | 79.3% | 25,138 | 39,957 | 59,630 |
| 2013 | 2,666 | 77.5% | 28,176 | 43,924 | 65,072 |
| 2012 | 2,317 | 76.8% | 31,032 | 47,968 | 68,941 |
| 2011 | 2,073 | 76.0% | 37,390 | 58,416 | 82,818 |
| 2010 | 2,741 | 71.9% | 41,130 | 63,302 | 88,216 |
| 2009 | 2,190 | 71.1% | 37,334 | 58,888 | 84,108 |
How Long Does a Citroen C3 Picasso Last?
Based on 6,707 Citroen C3 Picasso vehicles on UK roads.
Citroen C3 Picasso Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Citroen C3 Picasso MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Citroen C3 Picasso
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
81.9% MOT pass rate from 160 tests
71.1% MOT pass rate from 2,190 tests
The best year to buy a used Citroen C3 Picasso is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 81.9% across 160 tests. The 2009 model year has the lowest pass rate at 71.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Citroen C3 Picasso Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citroen C3 Picasso THIS CAR | 79.4% | 62,879 | 36,208 mi | 17 yrs |
| Citroen Xsara | 69.1% | 5,047,330 | 77,497 mi | 28 yrs |
| Citroen Berlingo | 70.1% | 4,453,235 | 83,738 mi | 29 yrs |
| Citroen C3 | 72.7% | 4,435,918 | 53,913 mi | 24 yrs |
| Vauxhall Vivaro 2900 Sportive S/s | 79.1% | 33,679 | 60,638 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Citroen Xsara (69.1% pass rate) and the Citroen Berlingo (70.1% pass rate), the Citroen C3 Picasso outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Citroen C3 Picasso you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Citroen C3 PicassoShould you buy a used Citroen C3 Picasso?
The Citroen C3 Picasso has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.4% across 62,879 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Citroen C3 Picasso with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Citroen C3 Picasso owner drives around 4,856 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Citroen C3 Picasso models stay on UK roads for around 17 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.