2013 Citroen C4 Picasso — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Citroen C4 Picasso passed 74.8% of its 1,553 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.1 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 21.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.0% of tests against 8.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, headlamp aim and individual direction indicators — stop lamp alone was recorded 93 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 C4 Picasso fails 23.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 23.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.3 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 249 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.3% | 129 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.0% | 108 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.4% | 99 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 71 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 65 |
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 | 93 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 89 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 75 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 74 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 58 |
| 6 | Joints | 55 |
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 | 29.9% | 464 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.0% | 435 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.9% | 263 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 230 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.3% | 207 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.6% | 72 |
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 | 52 | 23.1% |
| 30-60k | 325 | 22.1% |
| 60-90k | 678 | 26.7% |
| 90-120k | 333 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 105 | 25.7% |
| 150k+ | 60 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,516 | 25.2% |
| Petrol | 37 | 27.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 251 | 20.7% |
| 2022 | 309 | 23.9% |
| 2023 | 310 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 356 | 29.8% |
| 2025 | 327 | 26.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 C4 Picasso
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.3% 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 (7.0% 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 2013 Citroen C4 Picassos pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 1,553 2013 Citroen C4 Picasso MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Citroen C4 Picasso?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.0% of tests, followed by suspension (8.3%).
Does the 2013 C4 Picasso get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.1% in the 0-30k band to 23.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,553 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.