2020 Citroen C4 diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2020 Citroen C4 diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2020 Citroen C4 diesel than on all cars registered in 2020.

• Brake pads1.8× usual
  Citroen C4

  13.9% All 2020 cars

  7.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 1.4% of all 2020 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.

• Washers2.3× usual
  Citroen C4

  2.1% All 2020 cars

  0.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 0.9% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

  At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

Common 2020 Citroen C4 diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2020 Citroen C4 diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  28% 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
  20% 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
  6% 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
  4% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

• Seats and seatbelts
  4% of testsRough price £80–£250

  At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

• Exhaust and emissions
  2% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

  At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Known faults on the 2020 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.

• Air-con wiring recall can shut down the powertrain

  Cars built Jul-Nov 2022

  A May 2023 recall covered 6,867 vehicles built from July to November 2022. Faulty wiring to the air-con compressor could make the whole powertrain shut down. The fix is a software update to the powertrain diagnosis control unit.

  At the viewing: Check the build date. For cars built July-November 2022, confirm the recall is done using Citroen's online recall checker.

  Source: Auto Express: used Citroen C4 Mk3 (2020-date) review

• Cambelt due at 10 years or 116,000 miles

  Petrol and diesel engines

  The petrol and diesel engines use a cambelt, which needs changing every 10 years or 116,000 miles at a cost of about £499.

  At the viewing: Check the service history for the cambelt change on high-mileage cars, or budget for it.

  Source: Auto Express: used Citroen C4 Mk3 (2020-date) review

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2020 Citroen C4 diesel

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

1. If the car was built between July and November 2022, has the air-con wiring recall software update been done?
2. Any recent work on the brake pads? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the 2020 Citroen C4 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the washers? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2020 Citroen C4 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?