Used car guide

2017 Citroen C3 Picasso: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2017 Citroen C3 Picassos, from 3,241 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,241MOT tests in 2025

70%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%)

5,700typical miles a year

2×the usual rate for brake discs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2017 Citroen C3 Picassos than on all cars registered in 2017.

Brake discs2× usual

Citroen C3 Picasso
23.4% All 2017 cars
11.5%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0.7% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

At 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 system6.9× usual

Citroen C3 Picasso
10.3% All 2017 cars
1.5%

Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.4% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.
Drive shaft (CV) joints4.5× usual

Citroen C3 Picasso
6.8% All 2017 cars
1.5%

Failed outright at MOT: 5.6%, against 0.8% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.
Brake lights4.5× usual

Citroen C3 Picasso
5.8% All 2017 cars
1.3%

Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, against 1.1% of all 2017 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.
Individual direction indicators11.5× usual

Citroen C3 Picasso
4.6% All 2017 cars
0.4%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.2% of all 2017 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.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 1.9% here, against 4.8% of all 2017 cars.

By area

The share of 2017 Citroen C3 Picasso MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Tyres

31% 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

28% 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 electrics

24% 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 emissions

11% 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.
Suspension

8% 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 mirrors

7% of testsRough price £15–£250

At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2016	2,005	Tyres 33%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2017 Citroen C3 Picassos registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score