2012 Citroen Grand C4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Citroen Grand C4 passed 72.5% of its 327 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (21.7% fail rate), the 2012 Grand C4 comes out 5.8pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 22.6% of all tests — 13.8 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, headlamp aim and tread depth — stop lamp alone was recorded 37 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 36.4% versus 28.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 33.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.4% 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 | 22.6% | 74 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.9% | 29 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.3% | 27 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.7% | 22 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.1% | 20 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 37 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 20 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 18 |
| 4 | Washers | 17 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 17 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 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 | 33.0% | 108 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.2% | 89 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.5% | 67 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 60 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.6% | 28 |
| 6 | Visibility | 8.0% | 26 |
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 | 49 | 28.6% |
| 60-90k | 109 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 110 | 29.1% |
| 120-150k | 44 | 36.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 67 | 22.4% |
| 2022 | 63 | 25.4% |
| 2023 | 72 | 29.2% |
| 2024 | 70 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 55 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Grand C4
On a 2012 Grand C4, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 22.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (22.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (8.9% 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 (8.3% 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.
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 Grand C4s pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 327 2012 Citroen Grand C4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Citroen Grand C4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.6% of tests, followed by tyres (8.9%).
Does the 2012 Grand C4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.6% in the 30-60k band to 36.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 327 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.