2018 Citroen C4 Cactus 1.5L Diesel · JH04 OSM

The C4 Cactus presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent MOT on 27 February 2026 at 67,381 miles passed, but two advisories remain live. Nearside front suspension arm ball joint has slight play, a defect first noted in the February 2025 failure and carried forward into the 2026 pass. Offside rear parking brake efficiency only just met the standard, indicating the system requires adjustment or repair. These are not fresh failures, but unresolved wear items that a buyer should treat as active concerns rather than historical footnotes. The mileage accumulation is broadly typical for an eight-year-old car. Between the August 2023 test at 45,344 miles and the February 2025 test at 61,756 miles, the car covered roughly 16,400 miles in about eighteen months, a slightly above-average rate. The gap between the February 2025 failure and the February 2026 pass shows only 5,625 miles added over twelve months, suggesting lighter use or a period of reduced driving in the most recent year. The record itself is consistent, with no large unexplained gaps between tests. The February 2025 failure is the most technically significant entry in the history. Both front constant velocity boots were split, allowing dirt ingress to the drive shaft joints. Front brake discs were worn, pitted, or scored. Both front suspension arm pin or bushes were worn, and both front tyres were worn close to the legal limit. These are not isolated minor faults. They cluster around the front end and suggest a period where basic consumable upkeep was deferred. The fact that the front suspension ball joint play has now appeared in two consecutive tests raises the question of whether the arm or joint is deteriorating progressively rather than holding steady. A buyer should focus the in-person inspection on the front suspension and steering components, specifically checking for play in the ball joints and condition of the suspension arm bushes. The front brake discs and pads deserve close scrutiny for wear and scoring. Both front driveshaft CV boots should be inspected for splits or grease loss, as replacement may be imminent if not already done. The offside rear parking brake should be tested for holding efficiency on a gradient, and the cable or caliper mechanism examined for adjustment or corrosion. Tyre condition across all four corners, including sidewalls and tread depth, should be verified, given the history of front tyre wear reaching the legal threshold.