Citroën C4 Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Citroën C4 passes its MOT first time on 62.1% of tests, 7.5 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (69.6%). That puts it ahead of 14% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2011 C4 does best (beats 25% of cars) and the 2016 worst (beats 6%).

Of its engines, the 2.0 Diesel does best (beats 19%) and the 1.2 Petrol worst (beats 4%).

Watch these weak spots

Lights & electrics1.5×as often as a typical car

Body & structure2.1×as often as a typical car

Drive shaft (CV) joints3.7×as often as a typical car

Brake lights2.0×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Citroën C4Typical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 24%

Beats 21%

Beats 25%

Beats 18%

Beats 16%

Beats 12%

Beats 25%

Beats 18%

Beats 10%

Beats 13%

Beats 9%

Beats 6%

Beats 18%

Beats 9%

Beats 6%

Beats 15%

Beats 1%

Beats 1%

Beats 11%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	2005–2018	892,818	62.2%	Beats 14%	E
1.2 Petrol	2014–2023	128,804	74.3%	Beats 4%	E
1.6 Petrol	2005–2015	122,178	54.7%	Beats 19%	E
2.0 Diesel	2005–2019	104,672	57.8%	Beats 19%	E
1.5 Diesel	2018–2022	20,543	79.9%	Beats 8%	E
1.4 Petrol	2005–2010	17,182	50.5%	Beats 18%	E
1.7 Petrol	2007–2008	14,968	47.1%	Beats 17%	E
2.0 Petrol	2005–2008	13,359	51.9%	Beats 28%	D
1.8 Petrol	2007–2008	11,090	47.1%	Beats 17%	E

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Lights: 19.0% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 12.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics

19.0% vs 12.3%

Suspension

10.2% vs 9.5%

Brakes

8.4% vs 7.0%

Tyres

8.1% vs 7.0%

Body & structure

6.8% vs 3.2%

Visibility

6.3% vs 4.9%

Steering

3.1% vs 1.8%

Emissions & leaks

3.0% vs 3.0%

Seat belts & airbags

1.0% vs 0.9%

Wheels

0.4% vs 0.4%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Brake lights 2.0× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Headlight aim 1.5× typical
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
Headlight bulbs & units 1.6× typical
Check dipped and main beam on both sides.
Brake pads 1.5× typical
Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.
Windscreen washers 1.5× typical
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
Track rod ends 1.7× typical
Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Citroën C4Typical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Headlight aim	5.0%	3.3%	1.5×
Drive shaft (CV) joints	4.9%	1.3%	3.7×
Brake lights	4.6%	2.3%	2.0×
Sidelights	4.1%	2.9%	1.4×
Tyre tread depth	3.9%	2.9%	1.3×
Tyre damage & cracking	3.8%	3.6%	1.1×
Number plate lights	3.7%	1.5%	2.5×
Headlight bulbs & units	3.5%	2.2%	1.6×
Brake pads	3.3%	2.2%	1.5×
Windscreen washers	3.3%	2.2%	1.5×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	50.3
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	50.3
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	42.1
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	40.6
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	39.0
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	33.0
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	32.2
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm	31.9

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2023 Citroën C41 engine83.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	1,582	83.9%	Beats 11%	E

2022 Citroën C42 engines81.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	8,116	81.6%	Beats 1%	E
1.5 Diesel	1,383	83.9%	Beats 13%	E

2021 Citroën C42 engines79.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	11,834	78.6%	Beats 0%	E
1.5 Diesel	2,557	82.6%	Beats 11%	E

2020 Citroën C42 engines83.2% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	3,578	83.4%	Beats 20%	E
1.2 Petrol	3,024	82.9%	Beats 9%	E

2019 Citroën C43 engines79.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	14,340	79.9%	Beats 5%	E
1.5 Diesel	9,089	78.4%	Beats 6%	E
2.0 Diesel	1,651	80.6%	Beats 19%	E

2018 Citroën C44 engines78.1% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	5,462	77.1%	Beats 9%	E
1.2 Petrol	4,568	78.9%	Beats 5%	E
1.5 Diesel	3,936	76.9%	Beats 6%	E
2.0 Diesel	1,939	81.4%	Beats 31%	D

2017 Citroën C42 engines76.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	4,879	75.6%	Beats 23%	D
1.2 Petrol	1,798	78.6%	Beats 7%	E

2016 Citroën C43 engines71.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	99,050	71.5%	Beats 8%	E
1.2 Petrol	35,193	72.5%	Beats 4%	E
2.0 Diesel	6,231	69.8%	Beats 6%	E

2015 Citroën C44 engines70.1% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	188,691	70.2%	Beats 10%	E
1.2 Petrol	43,863	70.5%	Beats 4%	E
2.0 Diesel	15,224	67.6%	Beats 7%	E
1.6 Petrol	1,457	77.6%	Beats 31%	D

2014 Citroën C44 engines66.8% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	166,617	66.5%	Beats 13%	E
2.0 Diesel	9,468	68.0%	Beats 23%	D
1.6 Petrol	5,689	73.8%	Beats 24%	D
1.2 Petrol	4,486	66.8%	Beats 4%	E

2013 Citroën C43 engines61.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	99,378	61.4%	Beats 10%	E
1.6 Petrol	7,942	68.6%	Beats 19%	E
2.0 Diesel	4,270	57.3%	Beats 5%	E

2012 Citroën C43 engines60.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	66,279	59.7%	Beats 17%	E
1.6 Petrol	8,793	67.1%	Beats 29%	D
2.0 Diesel	3,778	58.6%	Beats 16%	E

2011 Citroën C43 engines58.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	55,685	58.4%	Beats 25%	D
1.6 Petrol	7,606	62.3%	Beats 24%	D
2.0 Diesel	6,073	58.5%	Beats 27%	D

2010 Citroën C44 engines50.5% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	52,407	50.0%	Beats 11%	E
2.0 Diesel	8,783	50.2%	Beats 12%	E
1.6 Petrol	4,826	56.2%	Beats 17%	E
1.4 Petrol	1,211	54.2%	Beats 13%	E

2009 Citroën C44 engines50.2% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	42,109	48.9%	Beats 15%	E
1.6 Petrol	10,644	53.4%	Beats 18%	E
2.0 Diesel	9,332	50.9%	Beats 20%	E
1.4 Petrol	3,123	55.6%	Beats 18%	E

2008 Citroën C47 engines48.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	52,869	47.8%	Beats 18%	E
1.6 Petrol	19,613	51.0%	Beats 18%	E
2.0 Diesel	19,111	49.6%	Beats 24%	D
1.7 Petrol	9,113	46.6%	Beats 15%	E
1.8 Petrol	6,112	47.1%	Beats 16%	E
2.0 Petrol	3,844	51.8%	Beats 23%	D
1.4 Petrol	2,039	50.8%	Beats 17%	E

2007 Citroën C47 engines49.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	41,196	49.0%	Beats 27%	D
1.6 Petrol	24,426	48.8%	Beats 17%	E
2.0 Diesel	15,659	51.6%	Beats 36%	D
2.0 Petrol	6,380	53.1%	Beats 33%	D
1.7 Petrol	5,855	47.9%	Beats 19%	E
1.8 Petrol	4,978	47.2%	Beats 19%	E
1.4 Petrol	3,327	49.1%	Beats 16%	E

2006 Citroën C45 engines48.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	20,020	48.7%	Beats 19%	E
1.6 Diesel	10,726	46.2%	Beats 23%	D
1.4 Petrol	3,688	47.6%	Beats 16%	E
2.0 Diesel	1,991	49.6%	Beats 32%	D
2.0 Petrol	1,713	49.0%	Beats 24%	D

2005 Citroën C45 engines46.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	11,162	48.1%	Beats 24%	D
1.6 Diesel	7,470	43.1%	Beats 19%	E
1.4 Petrol	3,794	49.0%	Beats 27%	D
2.0 Petrol	1,422	50.4%	Beats 28%	D
2.0 Diesel	1,162	47.2%	Beats 33%	D

FAQ

What is the Citroën C4 MOT pass rate?

62.1% of MOT tests on the Citroën C4 were passed first time, based on 1,325,614 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2005–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 69.6% of the time.

Is the Citroën C4 reliable?

On MOT results it rates E (poor): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 14% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Citroën C4 year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2011 C4 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 25% of cars on UK roads. The 2016 does worst: it beats 6%.

Which Citroën C4 engine is best?

Across all years, the 2.0 Diesel does best: it beats 19% of cars on UK roads. The 1.2 Petrol does worst: it beats 4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Citroën C4?

The most common failure items are headlight aim, drive shaft (CV) joints, brake lights. Compared with similar cars, drive shaft (CV) joints comes up 3.7× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Citroën C4 reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ