2009 Citroen C4 Picasso — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Citroen C4 Picasso passed 69.6% of its 9,857 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.6 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 26.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 23.4% of all tests — 12.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, joints and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 1,291 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 31.9% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 30.2% of the time against 30.4% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 32.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.4% | 2,303 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.1% | 1,093 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 995 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.8% | 962 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 733 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.4% | 628 |
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 | 1,291 |
| 2 | Joints | 872 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 782 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 625 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 539 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 522 |
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 | 32.2% | 3,178 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.0% | 2,661 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.5% | 2,511 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.4% | 1,910 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 1,686 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.2% | 1,303 |
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 | 532 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,607 | 28.5% |
| 90-120k | 4,099 | 30.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,944 | 32.8% |
| 150k+ | 639 | 31.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,902 | 30.4% |
| Petrol | 955 | 30.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,797 | 28.7% |
| 2022 | 2,392 | 29.2% |
| 2023 | 2,033 | 31.4% |
| 2024 | 1,512 | 32.9% |
| 2025 | 1,123 | 31.7% |
What to check before buying a 2009 C4 Picasso
On a 2009 C4 Picasso, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 23.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (23.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.1% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2009 Citroen C4 Picassos pass their MOT?
69.6% of the 9,857 2009 Citroen C4 Picasso MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Citroen C4 Picasso?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.4% of tests, followed by suspension (11.1%).
Does the 2009 C4 Picasso get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.5% in the 30-60k band to 31.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,857 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.