Citroen Picasso Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Citroen Picasso car check
Is the Citroen Picasso reliable? We analysed 4,620 real MOT tests across 339 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Citroen Picasso? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Citroen Picasso is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, position lamp(s) not working and registration plate lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Citroen Picasso.
Citroen Picasso Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Citroen Picasso. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Citroen Picasso MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Citroen Picasso to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Citroen Picasso Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Citroen Picasso fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Citroen Picasso Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Citroen Picasso owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Citroen Picasso MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Citroen Picasso year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 119 | 70.6% | 37,545 | 61,809 | 79,908 |
| 2011 | 134 | 77.6% | 38,807 | 65,230 | 100,542 |
| 2010 | 237 | 71.3% | 46,890 | 68,776 | 98,505 |
| 2009 | 263 | 66.5% | 42,724 | 76,515 | 104,222 |
| 2008 | 102 | 76.5% | 26,076 | 55,839 | 80,642 |
| 2007 | 640 | 72.5% | 49,423 | 74,801 | 102,232 |
| 2006 | 189 | 68.3% | 65,965 | 89,191 | 109,847 |
| 2005 | 207 | 70.0% | 56,832 | 77,821 | 107,812 |
| 2004 | 171 | 71.9% | 52,741 | 74,123 | 98,987 |
| 2003 | 283 | 71.4% | 50,178 | 70,024 | 89,448 |
| 2002 | 750 | 70.1% | 60,712 | 83,541 | 110,080 |
| 2001 | 1,317 | 65.6% | 62,424 | 80,813 | 104,919 |
| 2000 | 146 | 68.5% | 70,429 | 98,980 | 122,791 |
How Long Does a Citroen Picasso Last?
Based on 339 Citroen Picasso vehicles on UK roads.
Citroen Picasso Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Citroen 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 Picasso
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
77.6% MOT pass rate from 134 tests
65.6% MOT pass rate from 1,317 tests
The best year to buy a used Citroen Picasso is 2011, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 77.6% across 134 tests. The 2001 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Citroen Picasso Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citroen Picasso THIS CAR | 69.4% | 4,620 | 78,944 mi | 26 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 |
| Mazda CX-5 Sport Edition | 90.9% | 1,910 | 27,819 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Citroen Xsara (69.1% pass rate) and the Citroen Berlingo (70.1% pass rate), the Citroen Picasso sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Citroen 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 PicassoShould you buy a used Citroen Picasso?
The Citroen Picasso has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.4% across 4,620 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Citroen Picasso are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (230 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (139), and registration plate lamp not working (138). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Citroen Picasso owner drives around 6,973 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 Picasso models stay on UK roads for around 26 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.