2020 Citroen C4 Cactus — MOT failures & pass rate
6,310 MOT tests on the 2020 Citroen C4 Cactus are in this dataset, and 90.8% of them passed. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 7.9% of the time, so this is 1.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.7%) and lighting & signalling (4.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and headlamp — wipers alone was recorded 253 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.5% in the 0-30k band and 19.7% in the 60-90k band, a 13.3-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.2pp more often than petrol ones (11.2% vs 8.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.5% of tests failed in 2022 against 11.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.7% | 297 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 267 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.0% | 191 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.1% | 134 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 45 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 32 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 253 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 154 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 114 |
| 4 | Washers | 111 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 104 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 91 |
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 | 17.8% | 1,125 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.7% | 1,054 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 400 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 263 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.4% | 216 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.4% | 153 |
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 | 4,075 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,028 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 198 | 19.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,539 | 8.9% |
| Diesel | 771 | 11.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 71 | 8.5% |
| 2023 | 2,080 | 7.4% |
| 2024 | 2,025 | 8.3% |
| 2025 | 2,127 | 11.8% |
What to check before buying a 2020 C4 Cactus
On a 2020 C4 Cactus, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (4.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.0% 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.
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 2020 Citroen C4 Cactuss pass their MOT?
90.8% of the 6,310 2020 Citroen C4 Cactus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Citroen C4 Cactus?
Visibility, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.2%).
Does the 2020 C4 Cactus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 19.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,310 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.