2010 Citroen Ë-C4 — MOT failures & pass rate
47,623 MOT tests on the 2010 Citroen Ë-C4 are in this dataset, and 70.8% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (24.0% fail rate), the 2010 Ë-C4 comes out 5.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.5% of tests against 11.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 6,331 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.3% in the 0-30k band and 31.9% in the 150k+ band, a 15.6-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.2% fail against 29.4% for diesel, a 2.2-point gap across 47,615 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 31.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.5% | 11,194 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.5% | 5,479 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.4% | 4,000 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 3,784 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.5% | 3,108 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.5% | 2,644 |
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 | 6,331 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 4,002 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 3,470 |
| 4 | Joints | 3,440 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,385 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 2,327 |
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 | 31.2% | 14,879 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.1% | 13,375 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.8% | 10,856 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.8% | 7,999 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.8% | 7,998 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 6,918 |
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 | 307 | 16.3% |
| 30-60k | 4,212 | 22.1% |
| 60-90k | 14,746 | 27.2% |
| 90-120k | 17,658 | 31.1% |
| 120-150k | 7,967 | 32.2% |
| 150k+ | 2,713 | 31.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 43,415 | 29.4% |
| Petrol | 4,200 | 27.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,815 | 27.6% |
| 2022 | 10,966 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 9,787 | 29.7% |
| 2024 | 8,388 | 30.7% |
| 2025 | 6,667 | 31.2% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Ë-C4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 23.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (23.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.5% 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 (8.4% 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 2010 Citroen Ë-C4s pass their MOT?
70.8% of the 47,623 2010 Citroen Ë-C4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Citroen Ë-C4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.5% of tests, followed by suspension (11.5%).
Does the 2010 Ë-C4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.3% in the 0-30k band to 31.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 47,623 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.