2011 Citroen C4 Picasso — MOT failures & pass rate
8,065 MOT tests on the 2011 Citroen C4 Picasso are in this dataset, and 71.7% of them passed. That is 4.2 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 24.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.0% of tests against 12.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, individual direction indicators and joints — stop lamp alone was recorded 632 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.4% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 31.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.0% | 1,530 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.3% | 989 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.5% | 682 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.0% | 563 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 534 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 472 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 632 |
| 2 | Individual direction indicators | 543 |
| 3 | Joints | 465 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 458 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 437 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 412 |
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 | 31.9% | 2,574 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.7% | 2,070 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.7% | 1,830 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 1,341 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.8% | 954 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 609 |
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 | 37 | 13.5% |
| 30-60k | 747 | 21.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,675 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 2,858 | 29.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,235 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 510 | 30.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,716 | 28.3% |
| Petrol | 349 | 27.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,912 | 27.1% |
| 2022 | 1,783 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 1,704 | 30.2% |
| 2024 | 1,462 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 1,204 | 29.7% |
What to check before buying a 2011 C4 Picasso
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.3% 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 (8.5% 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 2011 Citroen C4 Picassos pass their MOT?
71.7% of the 8,065 2011 Citroen C4 Picasso MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Citroen C4 Picasso?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.0% of tests, followed by suspension (12.3%).
Does the 2011 C4 Picasso get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 0-30k band to 30.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,065 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.