2015 Citroen C4 Cactus — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Citroen C4 Cactus passed 76.8% of its 2,306 recorded MOT tests. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 16.8% of the time, so this is 6.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.0% of all tests — 4.9 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 101 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.3% in the 0-30k band and 30.6% in the 120-150k band, a 19.3-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.0pp more often than petrol ones (24.5% vs 21.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 276 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.0% | 162 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.5% | 149 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 137 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.3% | 123 |
| 6 | Brakes | 5.2% | 119 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 101 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 95 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 95 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 87 |
| 5 | Washers | 81 |
| 6 | Joints | 74 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 29.4% | 679 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.9% | 504 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.4% | 401 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.7% | 385 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 231 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.9% | 205 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 186 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 935 | 20.3% |
| 60-90k | 820 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 307 | 30.6% |
| 120-150k | 49 | 30.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,285 | 24.5% |
| Petrol | 1,021 | 21.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 370 | 16.5% |
| 2022 | 445 | 22.5% |
| 2023 | 456 | 21.7% |
| 2024 | 522 | 26.1% |
| 2025 | 513 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a 2015 C4 Cactus
On a 2015 C4 Cactus, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (6.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2015 Citroen C4 Cactuss pass their MOT?
76.8% of the 2,306 2015 Citroen C4 Cactus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Citroen C4 Cactus?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.0% of tests, followed by tyres (7.0%).
Does the 2015 C4 Cactus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 30.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,306 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.