2012 Citroen C4 Picasso — MOT failures & pass rate
5,809 MOT tests on the 2012 Citroen C4 Picasso are in this dataset, and 72.5% of them passed. That is 4.9 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 22.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.8% of all tests — 7.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, individual direction indicators and headlamp aim — stop lamp alone was recorded 481 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.7% in the 0-30k band and 29.7% in the 150k+ band, a 13.0-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 31.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 1,094 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.5% | 670 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.2% | 474 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.5% | 376 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.8% | 338 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 331 |
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 | 481 |
| 2 | Individual direction indicators | 338 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 320 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 296 |
| 5 | Joints | 289 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 286 |
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 | 31.2% | 1,810 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.6% | 1,546 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.1% | 1,170 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 898 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.9% | 632 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 374 |
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 | 54 | 16.7% |
| 30-60k | 730 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,058 | 26.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,941 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 723 | 31.5% |
| 150k+ | 303 | 29.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,598 | 27.5% |
| Petrol | 211 | 27.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,258 | 26.2% |
| 2022 | 1,241 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 1,179 | 27.1% |
| 2024 | 1,143 | 30.1% |
| 2025 | 988 | 28.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 C4 Picasso
On a 2012 C4 Picasso, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.5% 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 (8.2% 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 2012 Citroen C4 Picassos pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 5,809 2012 Citroen C4 Picasso MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Citroen C4 Picasso?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.8% of tests, followed by suspension (11.5%).
Does the 2012 C4 Picasso get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 0-30k band to 29.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,809 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.