2015 Citroen Ë-C4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 174,882 MOT tests, the 2015 Citroen Ë-C4 recorded a 79.0% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 15.6% of the time, so this is 5.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.0% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are joints, headlamp aim and registration plate lamp(s) — joints alone was recorded 6,960 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.6% in the 0-30k band and 23.1% in the 150k+ band, a 11.5-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 20.2% of the time against 21.2% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 19,298 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.4% | 11,149 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.8% | 10,219 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 9,016 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.2% | 9,031 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 7,696 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 6,960 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 6,939 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 6,901 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 6,677 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 5,130 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 5,027 |
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 | 27.8% | 48,675 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.2% | 40,516 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.9% | 22,544 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 18,010 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.0% | 17,527 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 12,774 |
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 | 9,299 | 11.6% |
| 30-60k | 62,358 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 67,431 | 23.0% |
| 90-120k | 26,830 | 26.4% |
| 120-150k | 6,407 | 25.9% |
| 150k+ | 2,418 | 23.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 143,179 | 21.2% |
| Petrol | 31,697 | 20.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34,328 | 16.5% |
| 2022 | 34,870 | 18.9% |
| 2023 | 35,399 | 21.4% |
| 2024 | 35,377 | 23.7% |
| 2025 | 34,908 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Ë-C4
On a 2015 Ë-C4, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (5.8% 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.
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 2015 Citroen Ë-C4s pass their MOT?
79.0% of the 174,882 2015 Citroen Ë-C4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Citroen Ë-C4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.0% of tests, followed by tyres (6.4%).
Does the 2015 Ë-C4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.6% in the 0-30k band to 23.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 174,882 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.