2016 Citroen C4 Picasso — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Citroen C4 Picasso passed 80.7% of its 31,721 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.9 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 15.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.8%) and tyres (6.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, joints and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 1,281 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.2% versus 12.2%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.6pp more often than petrol ones (19.6% vs 14.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 2,784 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.2% | 1,955 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.1% | 1,941 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.8% | 1,510 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 1,181 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 900 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 1,281 |
| 2 | Joints | 1,123 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,119 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,046 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 989 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 856 |
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 | 28.8% | 9,129 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.8% | 7,222 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.9% | 5,042 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.5% | 3,643 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 2,951 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 1,216 |
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 | 3,702 | 12.2% |
| 30-60k | 14,832 | 17.8% |
| 60-90k | 9,550 | 23.0% |
| 90-120k | 2,631 | 23.8% |
| 120-150k | 612 | 20.1% |
| 150k+ | 392 | 20.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 30,125 | 19.6% |
| Petrol | 1,596 | 14.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,948 | 14.9% |
| 2022 | 6,278 | 17.4% |
| 2023 | 6,404 | 19.0% |
| 2024 | 6,518 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 6,573 | 23.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 C4 Picasso
On a 2016 C4 Picasso, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.2% 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 (6.1% 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.
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 2016 Citroen C4 Picassos pass their MOT?
80.7% of the 31,721 2016 Citroen C4 Picasso MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Citroen C4 Picasso?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by tyres (6.2%).
Does the 2016 C4 Picasso get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.2% in the 0-30k band to 20.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,721 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.