Used car guide

2016 Citroen C4 Cactus: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Citroen C4 Cactuss, from 3,489 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,489MOT tests in 2025
62%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
7,300typical miles a year
7.7×the usual rate for exhaust system

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Citroen C4 Cactuss than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Exhaust system7.7× usual
    Citroen C4 Cactus
    15.4% All 2016 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.5% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Number plate lights4× usual
    Citroen C4 Cactus
    12.9% All 2016 cars
    3.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 0.9% of all 2016 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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints5.4× usual
    Citroen C4 Cactus
    10.2% All 2016 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8%, against 1.1% of all 2016 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 lights2.9× usual
    Citroen C4 Cactus
    5.3% All 2016 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.9%, against 1.4% of all 2016 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.

  • Headlights3× usual
    Citroen C4 Cactus
    5.1% All 2016 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5%, against 1.4% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 0.7% here, against 4.3% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Citroen C4 Cactus MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    33% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    27% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    26% 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.

  • Suspension
    20% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    17% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    10% 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
20201,904Tyres 27%
20193,889Tyres 33%
20185,370Tyres 33%
20175,804Tyres 34%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 Citroen C4 Cactuss registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score