Citroen

Citroen C4 (2013)

14,185 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.2% first-time pass rate

2013 Citroen C4

CarHunch analysed 14,185 real MOT records for the 2013 Citroen C4. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 Citroën C4 falls short of the UK average with a 76.2% first-time pass rate, and there's a genuine concern here: over half of these vehicles (51.7%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above what you'd want to see. Diesel versions, which make up 93% of the sample, pass at 75.8%, while the smaller petrol contingent manages a healthier 80.6%.

At around 62,000 miles on the clock, mileage is reasonable for an 11-year-old car, but the average vehicle racks up 3.2 failures and 16.5 advisories per test—suggesting wear-related issues are creeping in across the board. Before buying, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically flags the suspension, brakes, and emissions systems, as these are where C4s typically stumble.

The 2013 Citroen C4 has a decent first-time pass rate (76.2%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.
First-time pass
76.2%
UK average ~80%
Around average
Dangerous (ever)
51.7%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
3.22
Over 12.5 tests on record
High
Typical mileage
62k
Middle half: 48k–77k
For context
🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 16.5 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.
🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 14,185 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 14,185 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 65.5%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Brake wear 39.1%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Other issues 27.5%
Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
Lighting 17.8%
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources · Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 14,185 Citroen C4 cars.

UK

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 4.8 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

80.6%
Petrol
1,000 vehicles
75.8%
Diesel
13,184 vehicles

Before you buy a 2013 Citroen C4

Based on MOT data from 14,185 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 51.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
    Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
  • 🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection ClickMechanic
  • 📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (93%) 13,184 75.8% 3.27
Petrol (7%) 1,000 80.6% 2.58

Colour Breakdown

Based on 233,864 Citroen C4 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 21.9%
51,191
Silver 17.4%
40,580
Red 15.9%
37,242
Blue 14.8%
34,542
Black 12.6%
29,564
White 7%
16,392
Purple 3.7%
8,735
Brown 2.6%
6,055
Beige 2.4%
5,531
Bronze 0.7%
1,748
Green 0.6%
1,302
Yellow 0.4%
982

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Citroen C4 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

61,953
typical
47,722
low mileage
77,125
high mileage

Half of all 2013 Citroen C4 vehicles fall between 47,722 and 77,125 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 47,722 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.
47,722–77,125 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Citroen C4s sit.
Over 104,118 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Citroen C4 — Still on the Road

Most 2013 Citroen C4s are still being driven.

Strong survival — 10,932 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 80% of the peak.

912 10,932 2015 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.5
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
3.22
Avg failures per vehicle
16.5
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Citroen C4: All C4 years → Which year to buy? →
2001 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Or browse all models: Citroen →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Citroen C4 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing