2019 Citroen C4 Picasso — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 446 MOT tests, the 2019 Citroen C4 Picasso recorded an 87.4% pass rate. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (11.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.4%) and lighting & signalling (5.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp aim and washers — brake pads alone was recorded 21 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.2% versus 8.6%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.0% of tests failed in 2022 against 14.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.4% | 24 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 23 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.9% | 22 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 16 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 7 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.6% | 7 |
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 | 21 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 19 |
| 3 | Washers | 12 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 12 |
| 5 | Wipers | 9 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 6 |
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 | 26.2% | 117 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.5% | 96 |
| 3 | Other defects | 11.4% | 51 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 21 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 17 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.1% | 14 |
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 | 174 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 214 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 37 | 16.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 255 | 12.2% |
| Petrol | 191 | 13.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 88 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | 100 | 10.0% |
| 2024 | 125 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 119 | 14.3% |
What to check before buying a 2019 C4 Picasso
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.9% 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 2019 Citroen C4 Picassos pass their MOT?
87.4% of the 446 2019 Citroen C4 Picasso MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Citroen C4 Picasso?
Tyres, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.2%).
Does the 2019 C4 Picasso get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 16.2% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 446 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.