Used car guide

2008 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Citroen Grand C4 Picassos, from 160 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 160 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

160MOT tests in 2025
44%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
6,200typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for number plate lights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Citroen Grand C4 Picassos than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Number plate lights2.5× usual
    Citroen Grand C4 Picasso
    22.5% All 2008 cars
    8.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.5%, 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.

  • Engine oil leaks2.1× usual
    Citroen Grand C4 Picasso
    26.2% All 2008 cars
    12.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

By area

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

  • Lights and electrics
    50% 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
    44% 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.

  • Brakes
    43% 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.

  • Tyres
    39% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    28% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    15% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2012626Suspension 48%
2011814Suspension 44%
2010896Lights and electrics 49%
2009779Lights and electrics 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Citroen Grand C4 Picassos registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score