2011 Citroen Grand C4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 388 MOT tests, the 2011 Citroen Grand C4 recorded a 71.9% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (22.7% fail rate), the 2011 Grand C4 comes out 5.4pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.3% of tests against 11.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are individual direction indicators, headlamp aim and coil spring — individual direction indicators alone was recorded 37 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 36.7% versus 29.5%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 32.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.8% in 2021 to 25.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 67 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.3% | 44 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.7% | 30 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.2% | 28 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 20 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 17 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Individual direction indicators | 37 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 25 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 24 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 20 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 16 |
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 | 32.5% | 126 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.7% | 92 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.4% | 79 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 54 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.3% | 36 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 23 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 44 | 29.5% |
| 60-90k | 148 | 25.7% |
| 90-120k | 141 | 25.5% |
| 120-150k | 49 | 36.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 107 | 30.8% |
| 2022 | 91 | 28.6% |
| 2023 | 82 | 29.3% |
| 2024 | 57 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 51 | 25.5% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Grand C4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.3% 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 (7.7% 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 2011 Citroen Grand C4s pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 388 2011 Citroen Grand C4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Citroen Grand C4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by suspension (11.3%).
Does the 2011 Grand C4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.5% in the 30-60k band to 36.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 388 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.