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Is it normal for Citroen C4 strut mount bearings to seize at four years old?

My 2009 Citroen C4 1.6 HDI SX has just passed its MoT test. An Advisory item states, "Both front strut mount bearings partially seized". Should I be worried? The Citroen dealer has not been particularly helpful. The inspector also wrote, “Undertrays obscure underside components and engine covers obscure some components in the engine bay".

Asked on 23 November 2013 by IC, Carlisle

Answered by Honest John
It's quite common for strut top bearings of MacPherson Strut front suspension to need replacing after a few years. As you steer, the suspension strut turns in this bearing and eventually wear occurs. When a car is raised up on a four point body hoist for the MoT test, the struts sometimes drop out of the strut top bearings. MoT inspectors include the bit about “obscured” components because they cannot remove the undertrays in the time they have for an MoT.

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