2011 Citroen DS4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Citroen DS4 passed 71.4% of its 7,788 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (22.8% fail rate), the 2011 DS4 comes out 5.8pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.3%) and suspension (13.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, joints and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 699 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.3% in the 0-30k band and 31.2% in the 150k+ band, a 14.9-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 27.8% of the time against 28.7% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 32.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 1,116 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.4% | 1,045 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.9% | 695 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.8% | 608 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 524 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 306 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 699 |
| 2 | Joints | 559 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 503 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 493 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 460 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 397 |
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 | 32.1% | 2,499 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.4% | 2,057 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.2% | 1,651 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 1,414 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.9% | 853 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 585 |
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 | 43 | 16.3% |
| 30-60k | 687 | 24.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,694 | 27.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,848 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,204 | 30.7% |
| 150k+ | 308 | 31.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,511 | 28.7% |
| Petrol | 1,277 | 27.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,679 | 25.7% |
| 2022 | 1,685 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 1,616 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 1,473 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 1,335 | 31.8% |
What to check before buying a 2011 DS4
On a 2011 DS4, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.4% 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.
- Brakes (8.9% 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 2011 Citroen DS4s pass their MOT?
71.4% of the 7,788 2011 Citroen DS4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Citroen DS4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by suspension (13.4%).
Does the 2011 DS4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.3% in the 0-30k band to 31.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,788 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.