2011 Citroen Ë-C4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Citroen Ë-C4 passed 73.3% of its 50,548 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 22.7% of the time, so this is 4.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.9%) and suspension (12.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, joints and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 3,548 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.4% versus 15.3%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 25.9% of the time against 26.8% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 31.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 7,534 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.8% | 6,445 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.9% | 3,987 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.5% | 3,296 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 3,029 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 2,373 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 3,548 |
| 2 | Joints | 2,774 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,766 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,522 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 2,290 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 2,147 |
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% | 15,793 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.0% | 13,641 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.5% | 10,885 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 7,069 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.6% | 5,850 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.6% | 3,852 |
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 | 472 | 15.3% |
| 30-60k | 5,588 | 20.7% |
| 60-90k | 16,895 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 16,853 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 7,703 | 29.7% |
| 150k+ | 3,025 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 44,570 | 26.8% |
| Petrol | 5,965 | 25.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,486 | 24.6% |
| 2022 | 11,064 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 10,450 | 27.1% |
| 2024 | 9,395 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 8,153 | 28.8% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Ë-C4
On a 2011 Ë-C4, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.8% 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 (7.9% 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 2011 Citroen Ë-C4s pass their MOT?
73.3% of the 50,548 2011 Citroen Ë-C4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Citroen Ë-C4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.9% of tests, followed by suspension (12.8%).
Does the 2011 Ë-C4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.3% in the 0-30k band to 28.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 50,548 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.