2005 Citroen Ë-C4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 9,949 MOT tests, the 2005 Citroen Ë-C4 recorded a 70.3% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 2.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.8% of tests against 14.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, stop lamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 846 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.2% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 28.9% fail against 31.5% for diesel, a 2.6-point gap across 9,949 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.1% in 2021 to 27.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.8% | 2,171 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.5% | 1,441 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.6% | 951 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 784 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.2% | 617 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.1% | 611 |
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 | 846 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 834 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 784 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 595 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 544 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 458 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 34.7% | 3,452 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.7% | 3,451 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.3% | 3,010 |
| 4 | Other defects | 23.9% | 2,380 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 1,691 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.8% | 1,372 |
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 | 166 | 16.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,439 | 24.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,924 | 27.8% |
| 90-120k | 2,817 | 32.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,590 | 33.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,004 | 32.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,634 | 28.9% |
| Diesel | 3,315 | 31.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,609 | 31.1% |
| 2022 | 2,509 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | 1,781 | 29.6% |
| 2024 | 1,217 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 833 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Ë-C4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 21.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (21.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.5% 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 (9.6% 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 2005 Citroen Ë-C4s pass their MOT?
70.3% of the 9,949 2005 Citroen Ë-C4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Citroen Ë-C4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.8% of tests, followed by suspension (14.5%).
Does the 2005 Ë-C4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.3% in the 0-30k band to 32.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,949 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.