MPV and people carrier · 2007–2016 cars
Citroën Grand C4 Picasso reliability
The Citroën Grand C4 Picasso fails 50.5% of first MOT tests, 29% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 17,000 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Citroën Grand C4 Picasso before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 50.5%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 29% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 17,000
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 8,800
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso ages
Each point is the share of Citroën Grand C4 Picassos of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Citroën Grand C4 Picasso | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 41.6% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 45.9% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 49.7% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 50.3% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 51.3% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 56% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 54.4% | 42.3% |
By year
The best and worst Citroën Grand C4 Picasso years
2011 cars come out best and 2012 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 341 | 37.5% | 31% more fails | 79,352 |
| 2012 Grand C4 Picasso | 2,572 | 47.6% | 35% more fails | 93,183 |
| 2011 Grand C4 Picasso | 3,773 | 45.9% | 21% more fails | 97,671 |
| 2010 Grand C4 Picasso | 4,551 | 53.3% | 33% more fails | 102,929 |
| 2009 Grand C4 Picasso | 4,488 | 54.1% | 30% more fails | 104,319 |
| 2008 | 902 | 54% | 27% more fails | 100,958 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Citroën Grand C4 Picasso
Its weak spot is body, chassis and structure: 113% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics29.5%68% above avg
- Suspension16.5%10% above avg
- Brakes12.6%33% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure11.4%113% above avg
- Tyres9.3%21% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors8.1%41% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks6.6%41% above avg
- Steering3.8%23% above avg
- Seat belts and airbags1.8%37% above avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Position lamp not working 9.17% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Stop lamp not working 7.96% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 3
CV joint boot split or insecure 7.12% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 4
Coil spring fractured or broken 4.92% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 5
Registration plate lamp not working 4.61% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
- 6
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 4.4% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 7
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 3.89% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 8
Dipped beam headlamp not working 3.68% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Citroën Grand C4 Picasso's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit22.39%
- Brake disc pitted or scored12.61%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive11.67%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear10.76%
- Brake pads wearing thin9.07%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking6.03%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Citroën Grand C4 Picasso
- 1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 3
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 4
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Citroën Grand C4 Picasso covers about 8,800 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Diesel92.9%
- Petrol7.1%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Red, Silver, Grey, Blue, Brown
Average engine size: 1.6 litres.
Compare
How the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz Viano | 33.6% | 14% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota Previa | 44% | about average for its age |
| Chrysler Grand Voyager | 41.7% | about average for its age |
| Renault Megane Scenic | 41.4% | 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Ford Tourneo Custom | 19.3% | 14% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chevrolet Orlando | 40.6% | 18% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën Grand C4 Picasso | 50.5% | 29% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every mpv and people carrier ranked in the mpv and people carrier reliability index, or all Citroën models.
Questions
Citroën Grand C4 Picasso questions, answered
Is the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso reliable?
On MOT results, the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso is well below average: it fails 50.5% of first MOT tests, 29% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 42 of 49 mpv and people carrier models in our index.
What fails most on a Citroën Grand C4 Picasso MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso are position lamp not working (9.17% of tests), stop lamp not working (7.96% of tests), cv joint boot split or insecure (7.12% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 29.5% of its tests.
Which Citroën Grand C4 Picasso year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2011 cars do best (21% more MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2012 cars do worst (35% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Citroën Grand C4 Picasso do a year?
A typical Citroën Grand C4 Picasso covers about 8,800 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Citroën Grand C4 Picasso before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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