2021 Citroen C4 Cactus — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Citroen C4 Cactus passed 91.9% of its 742 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as small SUVs of a similar age (7.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.7%) and lighting & signalling (3.5%) 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 washers — wipers alone was recorded 26 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 12.5% versus 6.3%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.7% | 35 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 26 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.4% | 25 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.6% | 12 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 5 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 26 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 3 | Washers | 14 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 10 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 8 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 7 |
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 | 17.4% | 129 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.5% | 100 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.8% | 43 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.7% | 35 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 18 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 13 |
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 | 384 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 312 | 9.6% |
| 60-90k | 40 | 12.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 675 | 8.3% |
| Diesel | 67 | 6.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 344 | 6.4% |
| 2025 | 366 | 9.8% |
What to check before buying a 2021 C4 Cactus
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 4.7% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (3.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.4% 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 2021 Citroen C4 Cactuss pass their MOT?
91.9% of the 742 2021 Citroen C4 Cactus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Citroen C4 Cactus?
Visibility, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.5%).
Does the 2021 C4 Cactus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 12.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 742 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.