2012 Citroen C4 diesel: common problems and MOT failures

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

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

• Number plate lights2.1× usual
  Citroen C4

  14.1% All 2012 cars

  6.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 4.4%, against 2% 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.

• Ball joint2.1× usual
  Citroen C4

  10.9% All 2012 cars

  5.2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.2%, against 2.9% 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) joints2.4× usual
  Citroen C4

  9.3% All 2012 cars

  3.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.5%, against 1.9% 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.

• Individual direction indicators2.6× usual
  Citroen C4

  7.4% All 2012 cars

  2.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 1.1% 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.

• Brake lights1.9× usual
  Citroen C4

  6.8% All 2012 cars

  3.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.5%, against 2.9% 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 C4 diesel MOT failures and advisories

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

• Suspension
  38% 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.

• 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.

• Brakes
  34% 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.

• Lights and electrics
  34% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  10% 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
  9% 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 C4 diesel

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.

• Brake pedal bracket recall

  All engines

  The first of nine recalls on this C4, issued in December 2011, covered a brake pedal bracket that could break and leave the car without brakes. Later recalls covered fuel leaks, other brake problems, the engine cutting out and loose front suspension parts.

  At the viewing: Run the VIN through Citroen's recall checker or ask a Citroen dealer to confirm every recall has been done, and check the brake pedal feels firm and solid.

  Source: Auto Express: used Citroen C4 Mk2 (2010-2018) review

• Car won't start as if the battery is flat

  All engines

  Some cars fail to turn over even with a healthy battery. A poor connection between the battery and the fusebox can be to blame.

  At the viewing: Start the car from cold more than once and watch for slow or dead cranking or flickering dash lights.

  Source: Auto Express: used Citroen C4 Mk2 (2010-2018) review

• Jerky automatic gearboxes

  Automatic only (EGS and EAT6)

  Both the EGS automated gearbox and the EAT6 automatic give clunky, jerky shifts. The guide suggests the manual over the auto on the 1.2 PureTech 130.

  At the viewing: On the test drive, pull away gently and in traffic and feel for lurching, hesitation or harsh changes.

  Source: Auto Express: used Citroen C4 Mk2 (2010-2018) review

• Radiator fans running for no reason

  All engines

  The cooling fans can come on when they shouldn't. The fan control unit usually needs replacing, which is a cheap part.

  At the viewing: Listen after switching off and while idling from cold. Fans roaring on a cold engine point to this fault.

  Source: Auto Express: used Citroen C4 Mk2 (2010-2018) review

• Blistering paint on the aluminium bonnet

  All engines

  The bonnet is aluminium and its paint can bubble, mostly along the front edge. A respray doesn't always cure it.

  At the viewing: Look closely along the bonnet's leading edge for bubbles or signs of a recent respray.

  Source: Auto Express: used Citroen C4 Mk2 (2010-2018) review

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2012 Citroen C4 diesel

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

1. Has a Citroen dealer done all the recall work on this car, and do you have paperwork for it?
2. Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2012 Citroen C4 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2012 Citroen C4 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the 2012 Citroen C4 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?