Verdict
The Citroën DS4 passes its MOT first time on 60.8% of tests, 9.0 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (69.8%). That puts it ahead of 10% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2012 DS4 does best (beats 16% of cars) and the 2013 worst (beats 8%).
Of its engines, the 2.0 Diesel does best (beats 16%) and the 1.6 Diesel worst (beats 8%).
Better than average on emissions & leaks.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
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.
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 | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Diesel | 59.9% | Beats 8% | E |
| 2.0 Diesel | 62.3% | Beats 16% | E |
| 1.6 Petrol | 62.5% | Beats 10% | 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.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Number plate lights 5.3× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid. - Coil springs 2.1× typical
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps. - Tyre tread depth 1.9× typical
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems. - Headlight aim 1.8× typical
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left. - Handbrake performance 2.3× typical
Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope. - Brake discs 2.0× typical
Look through the wheel spokes for scored discs or a heavy rust lip on the edge.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number plate lights | 8.3% | 1.6% | 5.3× |
| Drive shaft (CV) joints | 6.5% | 1.2% | 5.3× |
| Coil springs | 6.1% | 3.0% | 2.1× |
| Headlight aim | 5.7% | 3.1% | 1.8× |
| Tyre tread depth | 5.6% | 3.0% | 1.9× |
| Tyre damage & cracking | 4.3% | 3.7% | 1.2× |
| Brake pads | 2.8% | 2.4% | 1.2× |
| Windscreen wipers | 2.7% | 2.1% | 1.3× |
| Windscreen washers | 2.6% | 2.2% | 1.2× |
| Handbrake performance | 2.6% | 1.1% | 2.3× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 73.2 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 65.8 |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 60.9 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 57.3 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 56.5 |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 39.9 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 26.5 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 26.1 |
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.
2015 Citroën DS42 engines68.4% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Diesel | 67.8% | Beats 4% | E |
| 2.0 Diesel | 70.3% | Beats 12% | E |
2014 Citroën DS43 engines64.3% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Diesel | 63.1% | Beats 6% | E |
| 2.0 Diesel | 66.7% | Beats 15% | E |
| 1.6 Petrol | 64.9% | Beats 4% | E |
2013 Citroën DS43 engines59.3% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Diesel | 58.0% | Beats 6% | E |
| 2.0 Diesel | 61.4% | Beats 13% | E |
| 1.6 Petrol | 63.3% | Beats 9% | E |
2012 Citroën DS43 engines58.6% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Diesel | 58.1% | Beats 15% | E |
| 2.0 Diesel | 59.2% | Beats 19% | E |
| 1.6 Petrol | 60.7% | Beats 12% | E |
2011 Citroën DS43 engines56.8% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Diesel | 55.0% | Beats 14% | E |
| 2.0 Diesel | 57.6% | Beats 23% | D |
| 1.6 Petrol | 60.5% | Beats 22% | D |
FAQ
What is the Citroën DS4 MOT pass rate?
60.8% of MOT tests on the Citroën DS4 were passed first time, based on 92,399 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2011–2015. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 69.8% of the time.
Is the Citroën DS4 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 10% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Citroën DS4 year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2012 DS4 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 16% of cars on UK roads. The 2013 does worst: it beats 8%.
Which Citroën DS4 engine is best?
Across all years, the 2.0 Diesel does best: it beats 16% of cars on UK roads. The 1.6 Diesel does worst: it beats 8%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Citroën DS4?
The most common failure items are number plate lights, drive shaft (CV) joints, coil springs. Compared with similar cars, number plate lights comes up 5.3× as often.