2016 Citroen Ë-C4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 108,178 MOT tests, the 2016 Citroen Ë-C4 recorded an 80.7% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (13.7% fail rate), the 2016 Ë-C4 comes out 5.6pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.4% of tests against 5.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, headlamp aim and tread depth — joints alone was recorded 5,511 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.5% in the 0-30k band and 16.6% in the 150k+ band, a 5.1-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 18.6% of the time against 19.5% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 10,131 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.7% | 6,199 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 6,164 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.7% | 5,078 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.6% | 4,940 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 4,903 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 5,511 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,998 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 3,721 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 3,398 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 2,989 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 2,982 |
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 | 27.4% | 29,608 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.2% | 22,893 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.6% | 12,584 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.7% | 10,458 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 8,524 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 8,030 |
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 | 10,535 | 11.5% |
| 30-60k | 47,994 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 34,247 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 10,926 | 24.4% |
| 120-150k | 2,715 | 21.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,756 | 16.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 80,668 | 19.5% |
| Petrol | 27,510 | 18.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,243 | 14.9% |
| 2022 | 21,546 | 17.2% |
| 2023 | 21,744 | 19.4% |
| 2024 | 21,836 | 21.5% |
| 2025 | 21,809 | 23.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Ë-C4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.7% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (5.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2016 Citroen Ë-C4s pass their MOT?
80.7% of the 108,178 2016 Citroen Ë-C4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Citroen Ë-C4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.4% of tests, followed by tyres (5.7%).
Does the 2016 Ë-C4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.5% in the 0-30k band to 16.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 108,178 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.