2015 Citroen C4 Picasso — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Citroen C4 Picasso passed 79.7% of its 3,736 recorded MOT tests. Against MPVs of a similar age (17.4% fail rate), the 2015 C4 Picasso comes out 2.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests against 6.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, registration plate lamp(s) and joints — headlamp aim alone was recorded 156 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 18.2% versus 10.4%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 406 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.3% | 235 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.5% | 205 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.2% | 157 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.0% | 151 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 119 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 156 |
| 2 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 129 |
| 3 | Joints | 125 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 123 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 122 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 99 |
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 | 29.6% | 1,105 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.5% | 914 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.4% | 575 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 502 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.2% | 418 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 182 |
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 | 221 | 10.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,151 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,430 | 23.5% |
| 90-120k | 587 | 24.2% |
| 120-150k | 184 | 23.9% |
| 150k+ | 159 | 18.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,657 | 20.6% |
| Petrol | 79 | 7.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 590 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 719 | 17.8% |
| 2023 | 787 | 21.0% |
| 2024 | 822 | 20.7% |
| 2025 | 818 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a 2015 C4 Picasso
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (5.5% 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.
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 2015 Citroen C4 Picassos pass their MOT?
79.7% of the 3,736 2015 Citroen C4 Picasso MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Citroen C4 Picasso?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests, followed by tyres (6.3%).
Does the 2015 C4 Picasso get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.4% in the 0-30k band to 18.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,736 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.