2008 Citroen Ë-C4 — MOT failures & pass rate
66,971 MOT tests on the 2008 Citroen Ë-C4 are in this dataset, and 69.7% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 26.0% of the time, so this is 4.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 23.0% of all tests — 10.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 7,721 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.3% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 29.4% of the time against 30.8% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 31.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 29.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.0% | 15,403 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.6% | 8,468 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.9% | 6,605 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 6,341 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.9% | 4,605 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.1% | 4,084 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 7,721 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 5,842 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 5,241 |
| 4 | Joints | 5,129 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 3,401 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 3,385 |
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 | 31.6% | 21,173 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.2% | 18,862 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.6% | 17,838 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 11,279 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.5% | 11,065 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.8% | 9,896 |
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 | 477 | 21.2% |
| 30-60k | 4,371 | 22.0% |
| 60-90k | 17,789 | 28.2% |
| 90-120k | 25,671 | 31.2% |
| 120-150k | 13,919 | 33.2% |
| 150k+ | 4,598 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 42,155 | 30.8% |
| Petrol | 24,814 | 29.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,584 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 16,697 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 13,070 | 30.6% |
| 2024 | 9,745 | 31.6% |
| 2025 | 6,875 | 32.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Ë-C4
On a 2008 Ë-C4, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 23.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (23.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.6% 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 (9.9% 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 2008 Citroen Ë-C4s pass their MOT?
69.7% of the 66,971 2008 Citroen Ë-C4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Citroen Ë-C4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.0% of tests, followed by suspension (12.6%).
Does the 2008 Ë-C4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.2% in the 0-30k band to 33.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 66,971 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.