Citroen C4 Cactus
From 32,830 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer C4 Cactuss fare better: 2021 models pass at 89.2% vs 69.8% for 2015.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements and a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, caused 994 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 994 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 799 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 680 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 559 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 477 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 440 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 427 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 403 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 393 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 391 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 19.3% of C4 Cactus failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 18.6% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £82.
The warranty question
A 3-year-old C4 Cactus passes its MOT 88.6% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 71.8%, a 16.8 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. With an average repair bill of £82 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a C4 Cactus that's past its third birthday.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89.2% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2020 | 88.6% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2019 | 80.7% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2018 | 79.3% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
3 earlier years
| 2017 | 76.4% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2016 | 71.8% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2015 | 69.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged |
Typical mileage
Half of all C4 Cactuss tested had between 33,730 and 48,454 miles on the clock.
At 40,824 median miles, the C4 Cactus has 0.053 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Citroen models
| Citroen C3 | 71.4% |
| Citroen Berlingo | 67.9% |
| Citroen C4 | 68.9% |
| Citroen C1 | 74.9% |
| Citroen Ds3 | 66.5% |
Common questions
What is the Citroen C4 Cactus MOT pass rate?
The Citroen C4 Cactus has a 78.3% MOT pass rate based on 32,830 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Citroen C4 Cactus?
The most common MOT failure on the Citroen C4 Cactus is wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, which caused 994 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
What is the typical mileage of a Citroen C4 Cactus at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Citroen C4 Cactus is 40,824 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 33,730 and 48,454 miles.
Buying a used C4 Cactus?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 78.3% pass rate and an average repair bill of £82 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.