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What to check: Citroen C3 Aircross

DBy age

DBy miles

Ranked across all years of the Citroen C3 Aircross, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 6.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

ExhaustRuns high on this modelListen along the exhaust at cold idle for blowing or chuffing, and give the tailpipe a push to check nothing hangs loose. Small blows only get louder.Recorded on 5.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.3%

Bushes and ball jointsDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 2.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

A binding brakeRuns high on this modelAfter the test drive, hold the back of your hand near each wheel hub. One wheel running much hotter than the rest is a sticking caliper. A car that slows itself down when you lift off on a flat road is saying the same thing.Recorded on 1.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.7%

LeaksLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 2.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Lights and horn walkroundWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 1.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.8%

Coil springsLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 1.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.3%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 28.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 21.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Windscreen and wipersRuns high on this modelScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 1.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.8%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Cold start the engine and look underneath near the timing belt cover on 1.0/1.2 PureTech petrols.Fresh oil weeping low on the block can mean a wet belt is already breaking down.

Ask for the full service history and check oil change intervals on PureTech petrol cars.Long gaps between oil changes are the single biggest risk factor for belt failure.

On diesels, check for a DPF or AdBlue warning light and ask how the car is normally driven.A car used only for short trips is far more likely to need a DPF or injector replaced soon.

On automatics, pull away gently from a stop and shift through first to second.A pronounced jerk or shudder points to the EAT8 needing attention, not just its usual character.

Cycle through every touchscreen menu, including the climate controls.Freezing, blanking or unresponsive taps mean an infotainment fault that tends to come back.

Get a torch on the brake pipes, rear subframe and rear wheel arch seams.Surface rust forming well before the car's age suggests this model's known weak spot.

Check the VIN against the DVSA recall database before handing over money.Confirms whether the brake pedal box or Takata airbag recall work has actually been done.

Full Citroen C3 Aircross reliability report