Used car guide

2009 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2009 Citroen Grand C4 Picassos, from 779 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

779MOT tests in 2025

48%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%)

6,900typical miles a year

2.4×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2009 Citroen Grand C4 Picassos than on all cars registered in 2009.

Engine oil leaks2.4× usual

Citroen Grand C4 Picasso
24.6% All 2009 cars
10.4%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.3% of all 2009 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.
Drive shaft (CV) joints3.3× usual

Citroen Grand C4 Picasso
17.5% All 2009 cars
5.3%

Failed outright at MOT: 10.4%, against 2.4% of all 2009 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.
Number plate lights2.4× usual

Citroen Grand C4 Picasso
21.1% All 2009 cars
8.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 5.8%, against 2.4% of all 2009 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.
Headlights1.8× usual

Citroen Grand C4 Picasso
15.1% All 2009 cars
8.3%

Failed outright at MOT: 6.4%, against 3.9% of all 2009 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.
Brake lights2.2× usual

Citroen Grand C4 Picasso
11.8% All 2009 cars
5.4%

Failed outright at MOT: 10.5%, against 4.3% of all 2009 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.

Better than most

Exhaust system: 3.6% here, against 8.4% of all 2009 cars. Shock absorbers: 3.3% here, against 7.5% of all 2009 cars.

By area

The share of 2009 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

43% 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

38% 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

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.
Oil and fluid leaks

26% 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

17% 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

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2012	626	Suspension 48%
2011	814	Suspension 44%
2010	896	Lights and electrics 49%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2009 Citroen Grand C4 Picassos registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score