Car statistics by year

2008 Citroën C3

Citroën C3 cars first registered in 2008: how they did at their 2025 MOT, what failed them, how far they have been driven and how many are still on the road. Compared with every car first registered in 2008, so like is set against like.

A year of the Citroën C3. “2008” is the year of first registration.

Last updated
Records analysed
4,049 MOT tests of 2008 Citroën C3 cars
Methodology
View methodology
  • MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 51.1% All 2008 cars 57.0%
  • Typical mileage at the MOT 77,500 miles; all 2008 cars 104,200
  • Left at the end of 2025 4,128 41.6% of the 9,917 at the end of 2014
  • Tests finding a dangerous defect 10.5% All 2008 cars 10.4%
  • Tests with an advisory 70.5% All 2008 cars 69.6%
  • MOT tests in 2025 4,049 normal tests in Great Britain

How do 2008 Citroën C3s do at their MOT?

In 2025, at about 17 years old, 51.1% of 2008 Citroën C3 MOT tests were passed first time, against 57.0% for all cars first registered in 2008. 2008 Citroën C3s did worse than average for their age, by 5.9 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 51.4% of the time (all 2008 cars 56.8%).

MOT pass rate by year of first registration: Citroën C3 vs all cars

Each pair of bars is one year of first registration, tested in 2025. Older cars pass less often, so compare each Citroën C3 bar with the all-cars bar beside it.

MOT first-time pass rate in 2025 by year of first registration, Citroën C3 compared with all cars
First registered Citroën C3All cars
’02 48.5%59.7%
’03 49.9%58.9%
’04 50.6%57.9%
’05 50.5%57.7%
’06 52.6%56.9%
’07 51.2%57.3%
’08 51.1%57.0%
’09 49.9%58.2%
’10 51.5%59.3%
’11 53.5%61.5%
’12 55.5%63.6%
’13 58.4%66.0%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT failures on the 2008 Citroën C3

Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt was the most common single reason a 2008 Citroën C3 failed, on 16.7% of about 2,000 failed tests. By area of the car, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment failed most often (49.6% of failed tests; all 2008 cars 47.7%). 10.5% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 10.4% for all cars first registered in 2008. A failed test can have several defects, so shares add up to more than 100%.

Most common reasons for failure

Share of failed tests with each defect. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.

Most common specific MOT defects on failed 2008 Citroën C3 tests, 2025
Defect Share of failed tests
Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure 16.7%
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 12.9%
Component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Suspension 11.4%
Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 10.2%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility 9.9%
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 8.9%
Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 8.8%
Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension 7.7%
Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension 7.5%
Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres 7.2%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Failure categories: Citroën C3 vs all 2008 cars

The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.

Share of failed 2008 Citroën C3 MOT tests with a defect in each category, with all 2008 cars for comparison
Category Share of failed tests
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 49.6%
Suspension 43.3%
Body, chassis, structure 30.5%
Visibility 20.5%
Brakes 18.7%
Tyres 17.3%
Noise, emissions and leaks 11.5%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems 8.8%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT advisories on the 2008 Citroën C3

An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 70.5% of 2008 Citroën C3 tests had at least one (all 2008 cars 69.6%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.

Most common advisories

Most common MOT advisories on 2008 Citroën C3 tests, 2025
Advisory Share of tests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres 20.7%
Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks 18.8%
Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres 15.0%
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes 13.5%
Coil spring: corroded Suspension 10.1%
Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension 9.5%
Flexible brake hoses: slight corrosion to ferrule Brakes 6.6%
Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure 5.4%
Service brake performance: binding but not excessively Brakes 5.1%
Individual direction indicators: slightly discoloured Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 4.8%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

What mileage is normal for a 2008 Citroën C3?

Half of the 2008 Citroën C3s tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 77,500 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 58,200 and a quarter more than 99,000. For all cars first registered in 2008, the middle figure was 104,200 miles, so 2008 Citroën C3s have been driven 25.6% less far than average.

Mileage at the 2025 MOT

Odometer readings at each car’s latest MOT of the year. The bar covers the middle half of cars; the line the middle 80%.

Odometer readings at the 2025 MOT, 2008 Citroën C3 and all 2008 cars, by percentile
10% 25% Median 75% 90% Cars
2008 Citroën C3 42,000 58,200 77,500 99,000 123,000 3,868
All 2008 cars 55,300 77,400 104,200 133,600 162,900 828,912
miles

Half of the 2008 Citroën C3s tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 77,500 miles.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

How many 2008 Citroën C3s are left?

At the end of 2014, 9,917 2008 Citroën C3s were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom (these counts start in 2014). By the end of 2025, 4,128 were: 3,509 licensed and 619 declared off the road (SORN). That is 41.6% still on the record, against 50.5% for all cars first registered in 2008.

Share still on the record since 2014

Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2014. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.

2008 Citroën C3s on the DVLA record at each year end as a share of the number at the end of 2014, compared with all 2008 cars
Year end 2008 Citroën C3All 2008 cars
2014 100.0%100.0%
2015 98.8%98.3%
2016 97.8%96.8%
2017 95.6%94.3%
2018 92.4%91.0%
2019 87.5%86.8%
2020 82.4%82.2%
2021 74.2%76.3%
2022 66.6%70.5%
2023 58.1%64.2%
2024 50.0%57.2%
2025 41.6%50.5%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated

Recalls that may affect cars built around 2008

8 of the Citroën C3’s 84 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2008. 2 have no build dates, so could apply to any year.

The 2008 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2008 may have been built in 2007, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.

Citroën C3 recalls whose build dates include 2008
Launched Concern Built Vehicles
7 Mar 2025 Citroen C3 DS3 Driver and Passenger Airbag (Takata) 24 Sept 2008 to 21 Feb 2017 55,166
10 Dec 2024 Citroen C3 DS3 Driver and Passenger Airbag (Takata) 24 Sept 2008 to 21 Feb 2017 21
17 Jun 2011 Passenger may influence brake operation 29 Jul 2008 to 31 May 2011 24,213
5 Oct 2010 Lights may fail without warning 4 Jul 2007 to 27 Mar 2008 12,950 (all models)
7 Jul 2010 Loss of braking efficiency 11 Sept 2008 to 15 Jan 2010 7,760
19 Oct 2009 Lights may switch off unexpectedly 21 Dec 2006 to 27 Mar 2008 37,086 (all models)
24 Dec 2008 Wipers / lights/ battery charging may be affected. 1 Feb 2008 to 14 Jun 2008 6,031 (all models)
20 Oct 2008 Front suspension wishbone could become loose 14 Jan 2008 to 18 Mar 2008 4,652 (all models)

Every Citroën C3 recall · Check a specific car on GOV.UK · How we match recalls

Recall details come from manufacturers through DVSA. “Vehicles” is the number the manufacturer reported; “all models” means the figure covers everything in the recall. A recall listed here may not apply to a particular car: only the manufacturer or GOV.UK can say for its VIN.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis January 1992 to September 2026 Updated

Other years of the Citroën C3

21 years of the Citroën C3, by year of first registration, have their own page with MOT results, common faults, mileage and how many are left. Against all cars of the same age, the 2022 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (91.9% passed first time) and the 2002 cars worst (48.5%).

Citroën C3s by year of first registration
Year Registered Left Pass rate All cars
2002 1,406 48.5% 59.7%
2003 3,445 49.9% 58.9%
2004 3,539 50.6% 57.9%
2005 3,840 50.5% 57.7%
2006 4,074 52.6% 56.9%
2007 4,513 51.2% 57.3%
2008 4,128 51.1% 57.0%
2009 8,262 49.9% 58.2%
2010 16,605 51.5% 59.3%
2011 14,427 53.5% 61.5%
2012 14,318 55.5% 63.6%
2013 13,310 58.4% 66.0%
2014 15,103 13,838 61.7% 69.1%
2015 13,290 12,366 65.3% 72.6%
2016 11,120 10,762 67.2% 75.6%
2017 20,116 19,456 71.6% 79.1%
2018 24,596 24,006 76.9% 81.8%
2019 23,230 22,918 81.9% 84.4%
2020 12,224 12,188 86.8% 86.9%
2021 12,692 12,267 89.7% 88.4%
2022 13,523 12,707 91.9% 89.4%

Registered: cars on the DVLA record at the end of the year they were first registered (these counts start in 2014, so older years show a dash). Left: licensed or declared SORN at the end of 2025. Both cover the United Kingdom. Pass rate: first-time passes at normal MOT tests in Great Britain in 2025; all cars: every car first registered the same year.

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures Source Period Records Updated
MOT results and mileage Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Derived statistics UK Motoring
2025 4,049 MOT tests of 2008 Citroën C3 cars 15 September 2026
Cars on the record Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of 2025 4,128 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) 15 September 2026
  • MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Citroën C3 cars first registered in 2008; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2008.
  • Year of first registration is DVSA’s first-use date: when the car was first registered, in the UK or abroad.
  • Defects and advisories are DVSA’s descriptions made readable. Where on the car a defect was found (side, front or rear) is ignored, so the same fault on any wheel counts once per test.
  • Mileage is the odometer reading at each car’s latest normal MOT of the year, as recorded by the tester. A few readings are in kilometres or mistyped; percentiles are not thrown by a handful of outliers.
  • Cars on the record come from DfT table VEH0124 and cover the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland; MOT figures cover Great Britain only.
  • DVSA records the model name typed in at the test. We match those names to DVLA’s generic models, so a handful of tests may be counted under a close relative.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.