2012 Citroen DS4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Citroen DS4 passed 73.1% of its 15,676 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 21.1% of the time, so this is 5.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests against 11.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are registration plate lamp(s), headlamp aim and joints — registration plate lamp(s) alone was recorded 1,139 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.8% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 26.5% of the time against 27.0% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 31.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 24.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 2,280 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.2% | 1,759 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.2% | 1,283 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.8% | 1,224 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 1,041 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 707 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,139 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,106 |
| 3 | Joints | 1,064 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,022 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 978 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 819 |
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 | 31.7% | 4,970 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.6% | 4,009 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.2% | 2,859 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 2,437 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.0% | 1,877 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 1,153 |
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 | 88 | 14.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,576 | 20.9% |
| 60-90k | 5,831 | 26.0% |
| 90-120k | 5,474 | 28.7% |
| 120-150k | 2,144 | 29.4% |
| 150k+ | 556 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 14,240 | 27.0% |
| Petrol | 1,436 | 26.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,321 | 24.4% |
| 2022 | 3,321 | 26.1% |
| 2023 | 3,150 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 3,066 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 2,818 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 DS4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.2% 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 (8.2% 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 2012 Citroen DS4s pass their MOT?
73.1% of the 15,676 2012 Citroen DS4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Citroen DS4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests, followed by suspension (11.2%).
Does the 2012 DS4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.8% in the 0-30k band to 28.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,676 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.