2012 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso than on all cars registered in 2012.

• Number plate lights2.7× usual
  Citroen Grand C4 Picasso

  19.8% All 2012 cars

  7.3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.6%, against 2.1% of all 2012 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.

• Brake pads1.8× usual
  Citroen Grand C4 Picasso

  17.7% All 2012 cars

  9.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 2.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

• Ball joint2.3× usual
  Citroen Grand C4 Picasso

  12.6% All 2012 cars

  5.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 7.2%, against 3% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

• Drive shaft (CV) joints2.5× usual
  Citroen Grand C4 Picasso

  11% All 2012 cars

  4.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.5%, against 2.1% of all 2012 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 lights2.7× usual
  Citroen Grand C4 Picasso

  10.1% All 2012 cars

  3.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 9.4%, against 3% of all 2012 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.

Common 2012 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2012 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Suspension
  48% 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.

• Lights and electrics
  41% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

• Tyres
  40% 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
  39% 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.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  12% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

• Driveshafts and joints
  11% of testsRough price £60–£350

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

Known faults on the 2012 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Timing belt that runs in oil (PureTech petrol)

  1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol

  The 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol engines use a timing belt that runs in the engine oil (a “wet belt”). It can break down early and shed rubber that blocks the oil supply, which can wreck the engine. Some also burn too much oil. Stellantis now covers earlier engines for belt and oil-burning problems for up to 10 years or 112,000 miles, as long as the car has been serviced on schedule.

  At the viewing: Ask for a full service history showing the right oil, and when the belt was last checked or changed. Check the oil level on the dipstick, and that no oil-pressure or engine warning light stays on.

  Source: Parkers: Stellantis wet belt compensation, and the cars at risk, Stellantis: compensation policy for earlier PureTech 1.0 and 1.2 engines (7 May 2025)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2012 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. When was the timing belt last checked or changed, and has it had the right oil at every service? Is the car still within Stellantis’ extended PureTech cover?
2. Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the 2012 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the brake pads? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the 2012 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2012 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?