2006 Citroen Ë-C4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 18,098 MOT tests, the 2006 Citroen Ë-C4 recorded a 70.4% pass rate. That is 2.3 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 22.9% of all tests — 8.9 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, headlamp aim and position lamp — stop lamp alone was recorded 1,658 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.0% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.8pp more often than petrol ones (30.9% vs 29.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 33.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 22.9% | 4,136 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.9% | 2,519 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.3% | 1,867 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 1,226 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.4% | 1,155 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.6% | 1,013 |
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 | 1,658 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,541 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,507 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 1,047 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 951 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 815 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 33.6% | 6,078 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.4% | 5,494 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.0% | 5,438 |
| 4 | Other defects | 24.9% | 4,516 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.3% | 3,484 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 2,263 |
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 | 222 | 15.8% |
| 30-60k | 2,502 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 5,893 | 28.6% |
| 90-120k | 5,313 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 2,765 | 32.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,387 | 35.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,104 | 29.0% |
| Diesel | 5,994 | 30.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,001 | 29.6% |
| 2022 | 4,534 | 29.5% |
| 2023 | 3,418 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 2,442 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 1,703 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Ë-C4
On a 2006 Ë-C4, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 22.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (22.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.9% 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 (10.3% 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 2006 Citroen Ë-C4s pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 18,098 2006 Citroen Ë-C4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Citroen Ë-C4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.9% of tests, followed by suspension (13.9%).
Does the 2006 Ë-C4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 0-30k band to 35.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,098 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.