2016 Citroen C4 Cactus — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 21,468 MOT tests analysed for the 2016 Citroen C4 Cactus, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, visibility and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 80.3% was below the average for cars of a similar age (85.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 30.8% in the 150k+ group versus 13.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 2,345 |
| 2 | Visibility | 6.7% | 1,448 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 1,400 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.9% | 1,261 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.6% | 985 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.0% | 651 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 1,176 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,094 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 877 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 850 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 818 |
| 6 | Washers | 625 |
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 | 27.2% | 5,837 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.1% | 3,887 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 2,887 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.4% | 2,010 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.8% | 1,894 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 1,476 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 3,002 | 13.3% |
| 30-60k | 10,429 | 18.0% |
| 60-90k | 6,146 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,630 | 27.1% |
| 120-150k | 217 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 39 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,077 | 18.7% |
| Diesel | 9,391 | 21.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,080 | 15.9% |
| 2022 | 4,174 | 17.0% |
| 2023 | 4,386 | 20.3% |
| 2024 | 4,433 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 4,395 | 22.6% |
What to check before buying a 2016 C4 Cactus
Before buying a 2016 Citroen C4 Cactus, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 10.9% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (6.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2016 Citroen C4 Cactuss pass their MOT?
80.3% of the 21,468 2016 Citroen C4 Cactus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Citroen C4 Cactus?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests, followed by visibility (6.7%).
Does the 2016 C4 Cactus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 0-30k band to 30.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,468 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.