2012 Citroen Ë-C4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Citroen Ë-C4 passed 74.2% of its 58,077 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 21.1% of the time, so this is 4.6pp 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 15.2% of tests against 11.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and joints — coil spring alone was recorded 3,587 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.9% versus 15.2%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.5% fail against 26.2% for diesel, a 3.7-point gap across 58,077 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 8,827 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.4% | 6,634 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.3% | 4,230 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.7% | 3,891 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 3,147 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 2,821 |
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 | 3,587 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,223 |
| 3 | Joints | 2,956 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,950 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 2,837 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 2,530 |
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 | 30.9% | 17,960 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.7% | 15,502 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.8% | 10,944 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 7,520 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.4% | 6,628 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 3,236 |
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 | 902 | 15.2% |
| 30-60k | 9,279 | 19.8% |
| 60-90k | 21,161 | 25.3% |
| 90-120k | 17,303 | 28.3% |
| 120-150k | 6,890 | 29.2% |
| 150k+ | 2,530 | 27.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 51,504 | 26.2% |
| Petrol | 6,573 | 22.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,529 | 23.7% |
| 2022 | 12,232 | 24.2% |
| 2023 | 11,893 | 26.3% |
| 2024 | 11,262 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 10,161 | 27.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Ë-C4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.4% 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 (7.3% 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 2012 Citroen Ë-C4s pass their MOT?
74.2% of the 58,077 2012 Citroen Ë-C4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Citroen Ë-C4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by suspension (11.4%).
Does the 2012 Ë-C4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.2% in the 0-30k band to 27.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 58,077 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.