2019 Citroen Ë-C4 — MOT failures & pass rate
23,905 MOT tests on the 2019 Citroen Ë-C4 are in this dataset, and 87.2% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 9.6% of the time, so this is 3.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.0%) and tyres (5.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp aim and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 962 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2019 Ë-C4 fails 8.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 12.4% of the time against 13.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 1,426 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.0% | 1,196 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.0% | 952 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 636 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 320 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 223 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 962 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 903 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 519 |
| 4 | Washers | 516 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 427 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 270 |
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 | 26.6% | 6,362 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.1% | 5,044 |
| 3 | Other defects | 10.5% | 2,501 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 914 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 576 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.2% | 524 |
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 | 10,284 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 11,109 | 15.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,123 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 283 | 17.3% |
| 120-150k | 71 | 11.3% |
| 150k+ | 35 | 11.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 13,553 | 12.4% |
| Diesel | 10,352 | 13.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 384 | 8.6% |
| 2022 | 5,880 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 5,869 | 12.1% |
| 2024 | 5,876 | 13.9% |
| 2025 | 5,896 | 15.6% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Ë-C4
On a 2019 Ë-C4, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.0% 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.
- Brakes (4.0% 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 2019 Citroen Ë-C4s pass their MOT?
87.2% of the 23,905 2019 Citroen Ë-C4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Citroen Ë-C4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by tyres (5.0%).
Does the 2019 Ë-C4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 11.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,905 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.