2015 Citroen DS4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,839 MOT tests, the 2015 Citroen DS4 recorded a 78.6% pass rate. That is 5.9 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 15.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.0% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, registration plate lamp(s) and joints — tread depth alone was recorded 443 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.2% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.2pp more often than petrol ones (21.6% vs 19.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 754 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.8% | 530 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.9% | 470 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.6% | 383 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 359 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 265 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 443 |
| 2 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 413 |
| 3 | Joints | 378 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 338 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 295 |
| 6 | Wipers | 186 |
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 | 29.0% | 1,981 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.5% | 1,746 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 736 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.6% | 589 |
| 5 | Suspension | 7.8% | 530 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 241 |
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 | 367 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 2,641 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,654 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 946 | 26.4% |
| 120-150k | 188 | 25.5% |
| 150k+ | 43 | 30.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,200 | 21.6% |
| Petrol | 639 | 19.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,354 | 17.5% |
| 2022 | 1,367 | 18.9% |
| 2023 | 1,367 | 21.4% |
| 2024 | 1,370 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 1,381 | 26.4% |
What to check before buying a 2015 DS4
On a 2015 DS4, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.8% 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.
- Suspension (6.9% 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.
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 2015 Citroen DS4s pass their MOT?
78.6% of the 6,839 2015 Citroen DS4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Citroen DS4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.0% of tests, followed by tyres (7.8%).
Does the 2015 DS4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,839 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.