Citroen C3 (2010)
2010 Citroen C3
CarHunch analysed 23,732 real MOT records for the 2010 Citroen C3.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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The 2010 Citroën C3 passes its MOT first time in 73.7% of cases, which is 6.3 percentage points below the UK average—a meaningful gap that signals reliability concerns worth taking seriously. Nearly half of these cars (48.5%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a material buyer concern and suggests particular vigilance needed on safety-critical systems.
These C3s are running around 68,000 miles at test time, which is reasonable for their age, but they're averaging 4.5 failures and 24 advisories per vehicle—indicating widespread wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. Before purchasing, obtain the full MOT history and have a trusted mechanic inspect the brakes, suspension, and steering components specifically, as dangerous defects are the pattern here rather than the exception.
The 2010 Citroen C3 has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.7% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.
These stats describe 23,732 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.
What tends to go wrong
Across 23,732 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2010.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 23,732 Citroen C3 cars.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 2.6 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
Before you buy a 2010 Citroen C3
Based on MOT data from 23,732 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
48.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded -
recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle. -
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Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price.
Inspection
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Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically.
History
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (61%) | 14,546 | 72.7% | 4.75 |
| Petrol (39%) | 9,185 | 75.3% | 4.16 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 310,572 Citroen C3 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2010 Citroen C3 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2010 Citroen C3 vehicles fall between 52,832 and 84,331 miles.
2010 Citroen C3 — Still on the Road
Most 2010 Citroen C3s are still being driven.
15,932 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 70% of the peak remain.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.
MOT History Averages
Or browse all models: Citroen →
Compare with another model
See how the 2010 Citroen C3 stacks up against a rival.