2019 Citroen C4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 22,092 MOT tests analysed for the 2019 Citroen C4, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes. Its pass rate of 87.1% was below the average for small family cars of a similar age (90.4%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 1,343 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.0% | 1,108 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.0% | 889 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 596 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 300 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 214 |
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 | 890 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 850 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 483 |
| 4 | Washers | 478 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 401 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 248 |
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% | 5,884 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.0% | 4,648 |
| 3 | Other defects | 10.6% | 2,332 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 859 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 520 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.2% | 493 |
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 | 9,418 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 10,318 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,991 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 263 | 16.7% |
| 120-150k | 67 | 11.9% |
| 150k+ | 35 | 11.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,376 | 12.5% |
| Diesel | 9,716 | 13.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 367 | 8.7% |
| 2022 | 5,436 | 9.9% |
| 2023 | 5,419 | 12.1% |
| 2024 | 5,423 | 14.1% |
| 2025 | 5,447 | 16.0% |
What to check before buying a 2019 C4
Before buying a 2019 Citroen C4, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 6.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (6.1% 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 C4s pass their MOT?
87.1% of the 22,092 2019 Citroen C4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Citroen C4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by tyres (5.0%).
Does the 2019 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 22,092 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.