Citroen Xsara MOT pass rate and common failures
In 2025, 51.2% of Citroen Xsara MOT tests were a first-time pass, across 19,659 tests in Great Britain. For all cars it was 71.5%.
Compared with cars of the same age
Older cars fail more often, so a model that’s mostly a few years old will look better than one that’s mostly 12. These figures compare like with like.
At 3–5 years
–
Too few tests at this age to say.
At 6–10 years
–
Too few tests at this age to say.
At 11 years and over
51.2%
All cars: 61.3% (10.1 points worse). 19,656 tests.
Pass rate by age
Figures by age, with typical mileage
| Age (years) | Tests | First-time pass | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 383 | 52.2% | 60.2% | 86,250 miles |
| 15 | 1,722 | 54.2% | 58.6% | 91,250 miles |
| 16 | 1,864 | 50.6% | 57.5% | 96,250 miles |
| 17 | 2,720 | 50.2% | 57.2% | 101,250 miles |
| 18 | 4,044 | 50.6% | 57.0% | 98,750 miles |
| 19 | 2,778 | 50.5% | 57.2% | 101,250 miles |
| 20+ | 6,145 | 51.5% | 61.4% | 106,250 miles |
Typical mileage is the median reading at the test, to the nearest 2,500 miles.
What fails most often
The share of Citroen Xsara MOT tests that failed on at least one item in each area, against all cars. A test can fail on several areas at once.
| Area | Xsara | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 43.5% | 16.6% |
| Suspension | 26.4% | 13.7% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 20.6% | 4.2% |
| Brakes | 16.7% | 10.2% |
| Tyres | 10.6% | 8.4% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 10.6% | 1.1% |
| Steering | 7.0% | 2.5% |
| Visibility | 7.0% | 5.2% |
Most common reasons for failing
- Prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced failed 8.3% of tests
- Position lamp: not working failed 8.2% of tests · what this means
- Stop lamp: not working failed 7.3% of tests · what this means
- Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt failed 6.7% of tests
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect failed 6.1% of tests · what this means
- Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength failed 4.9% of tests
- Integral vehicle structure condition: corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced failed 4.7% of tests
- Ball joint excessively worn failed 4.5% of tests · what this means
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm failed 3.9% of tests
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam failed 3.5% of tests · what this means
Checking a particular Xsara?
See its own MOT history, mileage record and advisories in plain English. Free, no sign-up.
About these figures
- They cover every Xsara version DVSA records under this name (engines, trims and generations together), on its first MOT test of each visit. A “pass with rectification” (fixed within an hour) counts as a fail, as in DVSA’s own statistics.
- Cars under three years old are left out, because the few tested that young are mostly taxis.
- Fuel mix of the cars tested: petrol 59.9%, diesel 40.1%, liquefied petrolum gas (lpg) 0.0%.
- A pass rate describes the model, not any one car. How a car has been looked after matters more.
Download these figures (CSV) · Other Citroen models · All makes
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data for 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Our own analysis; not produced or endorsed by DVSA.