2008 Citroen C4 Picasso — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,447 MOT tests, the 2008 Citroen C4 Picasso recorded a 67.8% pass rate. Against MPVs of a similar age (28.0% fail rate), the 2008 C4 Picasso comes out 4.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.9% of tests against 12.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, joints and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 312 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 24.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 35.7% once past 150k.
The diesel cars hold up better: 31.4% fail against 33.5% for petrol, a 2.0-point gap across 2,447 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 33.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 31.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.9% | 537 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.2% | 299 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.4% | 254 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 251 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 216 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.7% | 164 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 312 |
| 2 | Joints | 204 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 202 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 168 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 118 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 110 |
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 | 33.1% | 811 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.7% | 703 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.7% | 702 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.2% | 469 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.9% | 463 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.1% | 344 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 157 | 24.2% |
| 60-90k | 737 | 30.3% |
| 90-120k | 908 | 33.8% |
| 120-150k | 467 | 34.3% |
| 150k+ | 154 | 35.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,574 | 31.4% |
| Petrol | 873 | 33.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 701 | 31.0% |
| 2022 | 612 | 32.4% |
| 2023 | 479 | 31.9% |
| 2024 | 366 | 34.2% |
| 2025 | 289 | 32.5% |
What to check before buying a 2008 C4 Picasso
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 21.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (21.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (10.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2008 Citroen C4 Picassos pass their MOT?
67.8% of the 2,447 2008 Citroen C4 Picasso MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Citroen C4 Picasso?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.9% of tests, followed by suspension (12.2%).
Does the 2008 C4 Picasso get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.2% in the 30-60k band to 35.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,447 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.