Used car guide

2004 Citroen C3: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Citroen C3s, from 2,441 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,441MOT tests in 2025
51%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
3,700typical miles a year
1.7×the usual rate for headlights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 Citroen C3s than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Headlights1.7× usual
    Citroen C3
    22.8% All 2004 cars
    13.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.3%, against 4.7% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Individual direction indicators3.5× usual
    Citroen C3
    11.9% All 2004 cars
    3.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 1.5% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Side repeaters5.1× usual
    Citroen C3
    10.1% All 2004 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.3%, against 1% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings1.8× usual
    Citroen C3
    11.9% All 2004 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.6%, against 3% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Rust in key structural areas2.7× usual
    Citroen C3
    3.8% All 2004 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 1% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Better than most

Sub-frame: 3% here, against 6.2% of all 2004 cars.

By area

The share of 2004 Citroen C3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    53% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    48% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    37% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    33% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    19% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    16% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20227,269Tyres 17%
20218,281Tyres 22%
20207,848Tyres 29%
201913,580Tyres 33%
201815,441Tyres 32%
201715,672Tyres 30%
20168,793Tyres 33%
201512,056Tyres 32%
201413,651Tyres 33%
201313,120Tyres 35%
201214,175Suspension 40%
201114,373Suspension 46%
201016,653Suspension 49%
20098,210Suspension 46%
20084,070Suspension 46%
20074,282Lights and electrics 47%
20063,692Lights and electrics 47%
20053,110Suspension 50%
20031,927Suspension 50%
2002677Lights and electrics 52%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 Citroen C3s registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score