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What to check: Citroen C4 Cactus

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Ranked across all years of the Citroen C4 Cactus, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 12.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

ExhaustRuns high on this modelListen along the exhaust at cold idle for blowing or chuffing, and give the tailpipe a push to check nothing hangs loose. Small blows only get louder.Recorded on 9.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.3%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 7.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.2%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 5.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

LeaksRuns high on this modelLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 3.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Coil springsLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 1.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.3%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 24.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 14.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersRuns high on this modelScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 5.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.7%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Start the engine cold and watch the dash during the first minute of driving, especially under braking or a tight turn.An oil pressure warning flickering on and off points to the PureTech belt-in-oil problem.

Ask for full service history and check the oil spec used at each service.Wrong-grade oil accelerates the timing belt degradation on 1.2 PureTech engines.

On an ETG6 automatic car, pull away from a dead stop several times and run through the gears.Hesitation, a jerky flat spot or a loud clunk means the clutch or actuator is wearing.

Get underneath with a torch and check the subframe, exhaust mounts and sills.Flaky orange corrosion here is the real-world version of the model's measured MOT weak spot.

Look closely at the Airbump side panels for fading, cracking or split seams.Damaged panels are a per-panel replacement, and the cost adds up fast.

Turn on the touchscreen and cycle the climate controls a few times.Freezing, lag, or the heater changing temperature on its own is the known electronics gripe.

On a diesel, check the MOT history for DPF-related advisories and ask about mostly town vs motorway use.A diesel that's done mostly short runs is a DPF blockage waiting to happen.

Full Citroen C4 Cactus reliability report