2020 Citroen Ë-C4 — MOT failures & pass rate
5,986 MOT tests on the 2020 Citroen Ë-C4 are in this dataset, and 88.9% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 8.9% of the time, so this is 2.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.3%) and lighting & signalling (3.9%) 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 211 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.3% in the 0-30k band and 14.6% in the 90-120k band, a 6.2-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 10.8% of the time against 11.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.3% | 315 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 235 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.4% | 206 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 144 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 44 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 41 |
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 | 211 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 159 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 140 |
| 4 | Washers | 116 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 61 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 53 |
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 | 23.7% | 1,417 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.4% | 1,160 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.7% | 459 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 144 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 124 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 96 |
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 | 3,034 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 2,511 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 379 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 48 | 14.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,318 | 11.3% |
| Petrol | 2,668 | 10.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 119 | 10.9% |
| 2023 | 1,993 | 11.1% |
| 2024 | 1,929 | 11.1% |
| 2025 | 1,935 | 11.1% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Ë-C4
On a 2020 Ë-C4, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.4% 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 2020 Citroen Ë-C4s pass their MOT?
88.9% of the 5,986 2020 Citroen Ë-C4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Citroen Ë-C4?
Tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.9%).
Does the 2020 Ë-C4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 14.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,986 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.