2009 Citroen Grand C4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 454 MOT tests, the 2009 Citroen Grand C4 recorded a 71.2% pass rate. That is 3.7 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.3% of all tests — 9.9 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, joints and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 64 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2009 Grand C4 fails 25.2% of the time in the 60-90k band and 26.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.2 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 33.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.3% | 92 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 47 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.1% | 46 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.0% | 41 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.0% | 32 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 64 |
| 2 | Joints | 37 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 34 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 24 |
| 5 | Washers | 24 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 23 |
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 | 33.9% | 154 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.0% | 136 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.4% | 111 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 64 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.9% | 63 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.5% | 52 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 111 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 169 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 114 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 34 | 26.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 127 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 108 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 96 | 31.3% |
| 2024 | 74 | 27.0% |
| 2025 | 49 | 32.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Grand C4
On a 2009 Grand C4, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.3% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (10.1% 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 2009 Citroen Grand C4s pass their MOT?
71.2% of the 454 2009 Citroen Grand C4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Citroen Grand C4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (10.3%).
Does the 2009 Grand C4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.2% in the 60-90k band to 26.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 454 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.