2012 Citroen DS4 petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Citroen DS4 petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 Citroen DS4 petrol than on all cars registered in 2012.

• Number plate lights2.8× usual
  Citroen DS4

  18.9% All 2012 cars

  6.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 7.2%, 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.

• Engine oil leaks2.7× usual
  Citroen DS4

  16.2% All 2012 cars

  5.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.1% of all 2012 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) joints3.1× usual
  Citroen DS4

  11.8% All 2012 cars

  3.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 8%, 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.

• Engine warning light3.6× usual
  Citroen DS4

  6.2% All 2012 cars

  1.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.2%, against 1.7% 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.

• Individual direction indicators2.2× usual
  Citroen DS4

  6.4% All 2012 cars

  2.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3%, 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.

Common 2012 Citroen DS4 petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2012 Citroen DS4 petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• 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.

• Lights and electrics
  35% 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
  31% 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
  27% 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.

• Oil and fluid leaks
  18% 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
  12% 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 DS4 petrol

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 DS4 petrol

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 2.8× as often on the 2012 Citroen DS4 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the 2012 Citroen DS4 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.1× as often on the 2012 Citroen DS4 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?