2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 Citroen C4 MOT pass rate and common faults

8,240 MOT tests in 2024. 55.3% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

86Well below average
Passed first time55.3%
Failed or needed repairs44.7%
Typical mileage at test93,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 8,240 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.7%
  2. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt5.8%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.7%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm4.6%
    556 marked dangerous
  5. Stop lamp: not working4.2%
  6. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.3%
  7. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.2%
    323 marked dangerous
  8. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.7%
    267 marked dangerous
  9. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps2.5%
  10. Individual direction indicators: incorrect colour2.4%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics29.1%
  2. Suspension20.5%
  3. Brakes17.6%
  4. Tyres10.5%
  5. Body & chassis8.0%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.7%
  7. Steering5.3%
  8. Emissions & leaks3.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm24.8%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened16.5%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.8%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.5%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure7.5%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Citroen C4?

In 2024, 55.3% of 2012 Citroen C4 cars passed their MOT first time, across 8,240 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Citroen C4?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2012 Citroen C4 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 86, which is well below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).