2014 Citroen DS4 — MOT failures & pass rate
14,440 MOT tests on the 2014 Citroen DS4 are in this dataset, and 76.1% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 17.5% of the time, so this is 6.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.3% of tests against 9.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are registration plate lamp(s), joints and coil spring — registration plate lamp(s) alone was recorded 1,105 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.4% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 23.1% of the time against 24.0% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 1,924 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.2% | 1,328 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.5% | 1,086 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 976 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.2% | 900 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 527 |
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) | 1,105 |
| 2 | Joints | 1,082 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 923 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 900 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 810 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 349 |
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 | 29.8% | 4,308 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.9% | 3,746 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 1,768 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.0% | 1,439 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.2% | 1,330 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 444 |
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 | 280 | 14.6% |
| 30-60k | 3,934 | 20.3% |
| 60-90k | 6,283 | 24.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,988 | 27.7% |
| 120-150k | 740 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 213 | 25.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,940 | 24.0% |
| Petrol | 1,500 | 23.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,863 | 19.6% |
| 2022 | 2,921 | 23.0% |
| 2023 | 2,948 | 24.7% |
| 2024 | 2,897 | 25.8% |
| 2025 | 2,811 | 26.3% |
What to check before buying a 2014 DS4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.2% 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.
- Tyres (7.5% 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.
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 2014 Citroen DS4s pass their MOT?
76.1% of the 14,440 2014 Citroen DS4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Citroen DS4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by suspension (9.2%).
Does the 2014 DS4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 0-30k band to 25.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,440 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.