Citroen C4 Cactus: what fails at MOT
29,000 MOT tests on the Citroen C4 Cactus in 2024, counted. 25.9% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
25.9% of Citroen C4 Cactus tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 16.5%, so the C4 Cactus does worse than most cars its age.
It fails most often on lights and electrics (7.5% of tests), wipers, washers and windscreen (5.6% of tests) and tyres (4.3% of tests). It fails on lights and electrics, wipers, washers and windscreen and body and structure more often than most cars its age.
By year of registration
Older cars fail more, whatever the model. So each year is shown beside the figure for all cars first used that year.
| First used | Tests | Failed first time | All cars that year | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 460 | 11.5% | 10.9% | 24,800 16,400 to 37,300 |
| 2020 | 2,724 | 12.6% | 11.5% | 25,000 17,200 to 33,900 |
| 2019 | 5,517 | 22.4% | 13.4% | 34,700 24,300 to 44,400 |
| 2018 | 7,248 | 24.4% | 15.6% | 42,000 31,700 to 53,700 |
| 2017 | 7,817 | 28.4% | 18.2% | 49,600 36,800 to 63,800 |
| 2016 | 4,788 | 35.6% | 21.3% | 57,800 44,600 to 74,800 |
| 2015 | 518 | 39.0% | 24.4% | 65,100 50,100 to 84,800 |
Green is at least three points better than other cars that year, red at least three points worse. Typical mileage is the middle reading at the test, with the range the middle half of cars fell in.
Where it fails
The share of Citroen C4 Cactus tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | C4 Cactus | Cars its age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 7.5% | 3.1% | More than most |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen | 5.6% | 2.1% | More than most |
| Tyres | 4.3% | 3.6% | |
| Body and structure | 3.8% | 0.6% | More than most |
| Brakes | 3.0% | 2.3% | More than most |
| Suspension | 2.5% | 2.0% | |
| Exhaust and emissions | 1.3% | 0.9% |
The parts that fail most
- Wipers3.4%
- Headlamp aim2.6%
- Headlamp2.5%
- Driveshaft joint2.3%
- Washers2.3%
- Tyre2.3%
- Tyre tread2.0%
- Number plate light1.7%
- Exhaust system1.4%
- Ball joint1.4%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.4%
- Driveshaft joint: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.3%
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.1%
- Tyre tread: below requirements of 1.6mm1.9%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.6%
- Number plate light: inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps1.5%
- Ball joint: excessively worn1.3%
- Exhaust system: system insecure1.2%
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.1%
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.0%
What testers warn about
Advisories are things that passed this time but are wearing. They are the best guide to next year's bills.
- Tyre tread: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge11.9%
- Tyre: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing8.8%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened7.9%
- Exhaust system: mounting defective6.0%
- Brake pads: wearing thin4.3%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement3.8%
- Brake discs: worn, but not excessively3.4%
- Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.3%
What these figures can't tell you
An MOT is a safety and emissions test. These figures show how often the model fails that test. They say nothing about engines, gearboxes or electronics that break between tests, and how a car has been looked after matters more than its badge. The car you are looking at has its own MOT record, and that is the one to read.
Ask before you travel
- “Do all the lights work, including the number plate lights and brake lights?”
- “Do the wipers and washers work properly, and is the windscreen chipped or cracked?”
- “Is there any corrosion underneath or around the sills and arches?”
- “When were the brake pads and discs last changed?”
Check a Citroen C4 Cactus's own MOT record
Type the registration from the advert. You'll see every test that car has had, what it failed on and what it was warned about, free.
Where this comes from
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The counting is Hindsight's own.
First-attempt MOT tests of cars first used 2004 to 2021. A test counts as failed if it failed or only passed after a repair during the test. Retests are left out. Built on 13 November 2026.