Used car guide

2008 Citroen C4: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Citroen C4s, from 5,078 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,078MOT tests in 2025
47%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
6,200typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Citroen C4s than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints1.9× usual
    Citroen C4
    13.7% All 2008 cars
    7.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.7%, against 3.2% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Brake lights2.1× usual
    Citroen C4
    12.1% All 2008 cars
    5.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 11.1%, against 4.6% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Sidelights1.8× usual
    Citroen C4
    13.4% All 2008 cars
    7.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 12.5%, against 6.5% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Number plate lights1.7× usual
    Citroen C4
    14.9% All 2008 cars
    8.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 2.3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Steering rack inner joints2.3× usual
    Citroen C4
    6.6% All 2008 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.9% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars. Sub-frame: 0.8% here, against 7.8% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Citroen C4 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    48% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    47% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    38% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    37% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    18% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    14% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20224,935Tyres 25%
20214,508Tyres 26%
20201,216Tyres 32%
20194,989Tyres 33%
20182,727Tyres 32%
2017954Tyres 29%
201617,097Tyres 34%
201526,960Tyres 35%
201419,797Suspension 39%
201311,424Suspension 40%
20127,569Suspension 41%
20116,041Suspension 45%
20104,858Lights and electrics 45%
20093,855Lights and electrics 44%
20073,824Suspension 47%
20061,273Suspension 52%
2005644Suspension 54%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Citroen C4s registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score