2009 Citroen C3 1.6L Diesel · YY59 RFF

A pattern of suspension and steering wear sits at the centre of this Citroen C3's MOT history, with three failures and a consistent stream of advisories pointing towards the front-end geometry and compliance components. The most recent test on 10 December 2025 passed, but only after a same-day failure for an inoperative registration plate lamp, and carried four advisories covering discoloured rear indicators, both front tyres worn on the inner edge, and rear wishbone bushes displaced on both sides. Earlier failures are also revealing: a 2023 test failed on an excessively worn nearside front suspension arm ball joint, and a 2022 test failed on a split offside CV joint boot alongside a nearside registration plate lamp defect. Advisory entries over the same period show play in track rod ends recurring in 2021 and 2024, play in a steering rack inner joint flagged in 2022, and a noisy offside front wheel bearing noted in 2021. Taken together, the record does not show stable roadworthiness; rather it shows a front suspension and steering assembly that has been progressively flagging wear across multiple consecutive tests. At 68,957 recorded miles over 17 years, the car has averaged roughly 4,056 miles annually, which is well below typical usage for a vehicle of this age. MOT tests have been conducted annually without any multi-year gaps, indicating the vehicle has not been laid up off the road, but the low annual accumulation means fewer miles of wear on the engine, clutch and drivetrain. However, low mileage on an older car can also bring its own concerns: rubber components, suspension bushes and brake hydraulic seals age regardless of mileage, and this is consistent with the pattern of advisories seen here. The mileage readings are broadly progressive across the recorded tests, with no obvious clock anomalies or sudden jumps. For a prospective buyer, the front suspension and steering assembly should be the priority area of inspection. Both front wishbone rear bushes have been recorded as displaced, and a ball joint has previously failed entirely, so any clonking, knocking or vague steering response over uneven road surfaces would warrant close attention. Listen for a single clunk or rattle from the front end on low-speed manoeuvres, and feel for excessive play or looseness in the steering when turning lock to lock, which would indicate the track rod ends or rack inner joint have worn further since the last advisory. The inner-edge tyre wear flagged on both fronts in 2025 is a classic symptom of worn or displaced suspension components distorting the wheel geometry, so a close look at the inside shoulders of the front tyres for feathering or accelerated wear is essential, and any unevenness should be investigated. A CV joint that split in 2022 may have been replaced, but it is worth inspecting both sides for fresh grease deposits around the boot lips and feeling for any clicking or vibration through tight corners. The remaining advisories are more straightforward to verify. The rear indicator discolouration flagged in both 2022 and 2025 suggests the lamp units themselves are ageing rather than a simple bulb issue, and the fact that the offside registration plate lamp has failed or partially failed in 2024 and 2025 indicates a recurring electrical issue that may need wiring or socket attention. The noisy offside front wheel bearing noted in 2021 should be checked by rotating the wheel by hand for roughness or grumble, and by listening for a drone that changes with road speed. A road test should also confirm straight-line stability without steering pull, firm brake pedal feel without judder under braking, and smooth clutch take-up, given the relatively low mileage and the age of the vehicle.