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Citroën Grand C4 Picasso reliability

E · Poor

MOT pass rates and common problems from 145,266 MOT tests of cars first registered 2008–2018.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
64.8%pass first time
−9.3 ptsvs typical car
Beats 6%of cars
145,266MOT tests

Verdict

The Citroën Grand C4 Picasso passes its MOT first time on 64.8% of tests, 9.3 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (74.1%). That puts it ahead of 6% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2016 Grand C4 Picasso does best (beats 4% of cars) and the 2017 worst (beats 3%).

Watch these weak spots

Lights & electrics1.8×as often as a typical car
Brakes1.4×as often as a typical car
Drive shaft (CV) joints4.6×as often as a typical car
Number plate lights3.2×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.

40%50%60%70%80%90%34567891011121314151681%75%66%58%51%49%48%
Citroën Grand C4 PicassoTypical 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.

2008
Beats 15%
2009
Beats 12%
2010
Beats 10%
2011
Beats 15%
2012
Beats 7%
2014
Beats 8%
2015
Beats 9%
2016
Beats 4%
2017
Beats 3%
2018
Beats 5%

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.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel2008–2018131,14064.4%Beats 7%E
2.0 Diesel2016–20176,03570.6%Beats 4%E
1.2 Petrol2017–20185,33875.8%Beats 6%E
1.6 Petrol2008–20092,75347.0%Beats 9%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.

Exhaust: 2.7% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 8.8% of tests fail on suspension, against 7.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 17.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 9.4% 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.Tyres: 8.1% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 7.9% of tests fail on brakes, against 5.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 17.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 9.4% 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.Lights−7.7 ptsTyres: 8.1% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−1.5 ptsBrakes: 7.9% of tests fail on brakes, against 5.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−2.3 ptsSuspension: 8.8% of tests fail on suspension, against 7.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−1.7 ptsExhaust: 2.7% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust−0.3 ptsSuspension: 8.8% of tests fail on suspension, against 7.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 7.9% of tests fail on brakes, against 5.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 8.1% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 17.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 9.4% 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.Exhaust: 2.7% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 17.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 9.4% 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.Lights−7.7 ptsTyres: 8.1% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−1.5 ptsBrakes: 7.9% of tests fail on brakes, against 5.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−2.3 ptsSuspension: 8.8% of tests fail on suspension, against 7.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−1.7 ptsExhaust: 2.7% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust−0.3 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Lights: 17.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 9.4% 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
17.1% vs 9.4%
Suspension
8.8% vs 7.2%
Tyres
8.1% vs 6.6%
Brakes
7.9% vs 5.6%
Body & structure
5.8% vs 2.2%
Visibility
5.2% vs 4.3%
Emissions & leaks
2.7% vs 2.4%
Steering
2.2% vs 1.3%
Seat belts & airbags
0.9% vs 0.6%
Wheels
0.5% vs 0.4%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Number plate lights 3.2× typical
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Brake pads 2.0× typical
    Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.
  • Headlight bulbs & units 2.2× typical
    Check dipped and main beam on both sides.
  • Headlight aim 1.6× typical
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Anti-roll bar links 3.9× typical
    A knock or rattle over uneven roads usually means worn anti-roll bar links (cheap to fix).
  • Windscreen washers 1.8× typical
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

40%60%80%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k150k91%81%71%62%55%53%49%52%
Citroën Grand C4 PicassoTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Brake pads4.5%2.2%2.0×
Headlight aim4.4%2.7%1.6×
Drive shaft (CV) joints4.4%1.0%4.6×
Tyre damage & cracking4.4%3.6%1.2×
Sidelights3.8%2.1%1.8×
Headlight bulbs & units3.7%1.7%2.2×
Number plate lights3.7%1.2%3.2×
Tyre tread depth3.5%2.7%1.3×
Brake lights3.5%1.7%2.1×
Windscreen washers3.4%1.9%1.8×

Specific defects found

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

Defectper 1,000
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn51.2
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc44.8
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements44.2
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm43.8
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements35.1
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen34.4
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning33.1
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps32.6
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.

2018 Citroën Grand C4 Picasso2 engines74.9% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel16,32274.6%Beats 5%E
1.2 Petrol2,09677.4%Beats 7%E
2017 Citroën Grand C4 Picasso3 engines72.0% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel41,19571.9%Beats 3%E
2.0 Diesel4,18071.0%Beats 4%E
1.2 Petrol3,24274.8%Beats 5%E
2016 Citroën Grand C4 Picasso2 engines70.4% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel24,44870.4%Beats 4%E
2.0 Diesel1,85569.6%Beats 5%E
2015 Citroën Grand C4 Picasso1 engine66.1% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel1,98866.1%Beats 9%E
2014 Citroën Grand C4 Picasso1 engine62.8% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel1,89062.8%Beats 8%E
2012 Citroën Grand C4 Picasso1 engine55.0% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel6,86955.0%Beats 7%E
2011 Citroën Grand C4 Picasso1 engine55.2% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel10,21955.2%Beats 15%E
2010 Citroën Grand C4 Picasso1 engine48.7% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel12,98748.7%Beats 10%E
2009 Citroën Grand C4 Picasso2 engines47.7% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel13,11547.5%Beats 13%E
1.6 Petrol1,51148.6%Beats 10%E
2008 Citroën Grand C4 Picasso2 engines47.1% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel2,10748.5%Beats 19%E
1.6 Petrol1,24244.9%Beats 8%E

FAQ

What is the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso MOT pass rate?

64.8% of MOT tests on the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso were passed first time, based on 145,266 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2008–2018. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 74.1% of the time.

Is the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso 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 6% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Citroën Grand C4 Picasso year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2016 Grand C4 Picasso does best for its age and mileage: it beats 4% of cars on UK roads. The 2017 does worst: it beats 3%.

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

The most common failure items are brake pads, headlight aim, drive shaft (CV) joints. Compared with similar cars, drive shaft (CV) joints comes up 4.6× 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.