2012 Citroen C4 MOT pass rate: 63.9% (24,684 tests)
Is the 2012 C4 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 65.2% -7.1 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 63.6% -7.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 62.9% -7.4 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2012 C4
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5,947 | 23.8% |
| 2 | Suspension | 5,814 | 23.3% |
| 3 | Brakes | 4,432 | 17.8% |
| 4 | Tyres | 2,900 | 11.6% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 2,049 | 8.2% |
| 6 | Visibility | 1,435 | 5.7% |
All C4 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2,842 | 62.0% | -2.5 pts | 89,271 |
| 2006 | 5,552 | 60.0% | -4.4 pts | 90,792 |
| 2007 | 16,843 | 59.2% | -5.9 pts | 101,912 |
| 2008 | 21,626 | 57.6% | -7.6 pts | 104,228 |
| 2009 | 15,356 | 59.4% | -7.1 pts | 101,030 |
| 2010 | 17,911 | 58.5% | -8.9 pts | 100,979 |
| 2011 | 20,622 | 62.6% | -6.6 pts | 98,790 |
| 2012 (this page) | 24,684 | 63.9% | -7.3 pts | 92,268 |
| 2013 | 35,876 | 63.6% | -9.8 pts | 85,323 |
| 2014 | 60,907 | 65.3% | -10.6 pts | 81,296 |
| 2015 | 81,735 | 70.4% | -8.4 pts | 72,626 |
| 2016 | 51,577 | 73.3% | -8.0 pts | 64,640 |
| 2017 | 2,897 | 79.9% | -4.1 pts | 61,685 |
| 2018 | 8,066 | 82.1% | -4.3 pts | 45,514 |
| 2019 | 13,987 | 83.8% | -4.6 pts | 37,247 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Citroen C4 years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
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FAQs
Is a 2012 Citroen C4 reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 63.9% of their MOT tests (24,684 tests, 2023–2025), -7.3 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 92,268 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 C4?
The median tested example shows 92,268 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2012 C4?
In this cohort petrols pass 68.8% of tests against 63.3% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.