2015 Citroen C3 Picasso: common problems and what to check
What gets flagged at MOT on 2015 Citroen C3 Picassos, from 276 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
Small sample: only 276 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.
What stands out
Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2015 Citroen C3 Picassos than on all cars registered in 2015.
- Brake discs2.2× usualCitroen C3 Picasso28.6% All 2015 cars13%
Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.9% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £150–£350 our estimateAt the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.
- Exhaust system5.9× usualCitroen C3 Picasso15.9% All 2015 cars2.7%
Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.7% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.
By area
The share of 2015 Citroen C3 Picasso MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Tyres36% 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.
- Brakes34% 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.
- Lights and electrics27% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Exhaust and emissions17% 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.
- Suspension16% 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.
- Wipers, windscreen and mirrors9% of testsRough price £15–£250
At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
Known faults
Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.
- Timing belt that runs in oil (PureTech petrol)1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol
The 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol engines use a timing belt that runs in the engine oil (a “wet belt”). It can break down early and shed rubber that blocks the oil supply, which can wreck the engine. Some also burn too much oil. Stellantis now covers earlier engines for belt and oil-burning problems for up to 10 years or 112,000 miles, as long as the car has been serviced on schedule.
At the viewing: Ask for a full service history showing the right oil, and when the belt was last checked or changed. Check the oil level on the dipstick, and that no oil-pressure or engine warning light stays on.
Source: Parkers: Stellantis wet belt compensation, and the cars at risk, Stellantis: compensation policy for earlier PureTech 1.0 and 1.2 engines (7 May 2025)
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Other years
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 3,241 | Tyres 31% |
| 2016 | 2,005 | Tyres 33% |
| 2014 | 228 | Tyres 39% |
| 2013 | 200 | Brakes 42% |
| 2012 | 149 | Tyres 38% |
| 2011 | 120 | Suspension 48% |
| 2010 | 138 | Suspension 48% |
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2015 Citroen C3 Picassos registered in 2015. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score