2014 Citroen C4 1.6L Diesel · NJ14 XME

The most recent DVSA examination on 23 July 2026 returned a clean pass with no advisories or defects recorded, and this follows two further unblemished passes at the same date in 2025 and 2024. Taken together, the last three consecutive tests demonstrate a stable and well-maintained presentation, with no deterioration in advisory trends. However, the broader history reveals a more complex pattern, including a failed re-test on 30 March 2022 with major defects for a fractured nearside front coil spring and a split constant velocity boot on the front driveshaft, alongside an earlier failure on 10 March 2021 which identified three fractured coil springs and ineffective front wipers. The clustering of suspension failures across both axles within a twelve-month period is notable and points to a wear pattern that has since been rectified, but warrants careful ongoing attention given the vehicle's age and mileage. With 142,402 miles recorded over approximately twelve years, this C4 has covered around 11,867 miles annually, which is broadly typical for a car of its vintage and suggests regular rather than intermittent use. The mileage progression through the MOT record appears consistent without any extended gaps indicative of long-term standing, meaning corrosion from inactivity is less of a primary concern than wear-related fatigue on mechanical components. That said, a diesel or petrol unit at this mileage will have experienced considerable working life across the drivetrain, clutch, turbo (if applicable), and ancillaries, so a thorough service history verification is essential to confirm that cambelts, water pumps, injectors, and dual-mass flywheels have been addressed at manufacturer-specified intervals. The recurring coil spring failures recorded in 2021 and again in early 2022 are particularly significant because fractured springs are a serious safety defect commonly associated with fatigue or corrosion at the spring ends. Although the vehicle has passed three subsequent tests without recurrence, a buyer should carry out a careful physical inspection beneath the vehicle on a ramp or over a pit, checking all four springs for signs of corrosion pitting, cracking, or sagging, and paying close attention to the replacement components fitted in 2022 to confirm quality. On a road test, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the suspension over bumps, observe whether the vehicle sits level, and watch for any unevenness in cornering behaviour that might indicate weakened springs. Additionally, the split CV boot recorded at the 2022 failure should prompt inspection of the front driveshaft joints for perished or torn boots, grease leakage, or clicking noises on full lock that would suggest joint wear following contamination. The repeated advisory for the offside rear tyre being worn close to the legal limit and on its edge, noted at both the 2022 test and again in 2023, suggests either persistent wheel alignment issues or a habitual loading pattern affecting that corner. A prospective buyer should request evidence of a recent geometry check and tyre replacement, and on test should feel for steering pull, vibration, or uneven shoulder wear. Beyond the recorded defects, a twelve-year-old vehicle with this mileage also requires age-related inspection of components not always captured on MOT, including brake disc corrosion and caliper binding from frequent stop-start urban use, brake fluid hygroscopic degradation which typically necessitates replacement every two years, coolant and transmission fluid condition, 12V battery health given the demands of modern electronic control units, and the condition of the timing belt or chain service interval. Exhaust integrity, underfloor corrosion particularly around suspension mounting points, and the operation of all electronic ancillaries including climate control, infotainment, and parking sensors should also be verified before purchase.