Citroen Saxo
From 5,957 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Saxos fare better: 2003 models pass at 68% vs 61.1% for 2000.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. and steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, caused 458 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 458 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 279 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 222 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 220 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 204 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 198 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 189 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 185 |
| service brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 164 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 163 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 37.7% of Saxo failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 12.2% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £170.
Citroen Saxo on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 1,323 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 1,323. At this rate, roughly 10.5 years until none remain. Now at 6% of its peak (229,204 in 2003 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 2,494 | 11,353 | +0 | -94 | -94 |
| 2025 Q2 | 2,577 | 11,364 | +0 | -120 | -120 |
| 2025 Q1 | 2,647 | 11,414 | +0 | -456 | -456 |
| 2024 Q4 | 2,807 | 11,710 | +0 | -653 | -653 |
| 2024 Q3 | 3,073 | 12,097 | +0 | -371 | -371 |
| 2024 Q2 | 3,265 | 12,276 | +0 | -177 | -177 |
| 2024 Q1 | 3,395 | 12,323 | +0 | -196 | -196 |
| 2023 Q4 | 3,574 | 12,340 | +0 | -168 | -168 |
6 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saxo 1.1I Desire | Petrol | 1,124 | 52% |
| Saxo Vtr | Petrol | 456 | 21% |
| Saxo Forte | Petrol | 288 | 13% |
| Saxo Vts | Petrol | 122 | 6% |
| Saxo Desire Auto | Petrol | 94 | 4% |
| Saxo Furio | Petrol | 92 | 4% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 68% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. |
| 2002 | 62.6% | brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle., steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2001 | 64.3% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2000 | 61.1% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, emissions levels exceed default limits |
3 earlier years
| 1999 | 65.8% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1998 | 69.3% | emissions levels exceed default limits, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1997 | 65.2% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
Typical mileage
Half of all Saxos tested had between 51,475 and 89,530 miles on the clock.
At 64,927 median miles, the Saxo has 0.054 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Citroen models
| Citroen C3 | 71.4% |
| Citroen Berlingo | 67.9% |
| Citroen C4 | 68.9% |
| Citroen C1 | 74.9% |
| Citroen Ds3 | 66.5% |
Common questions
What is the Citroen Saxo MOT pass rate?
The Citroen Saxo has a 64.7% MOT pass rate based on 5,957 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Citroen Saxo?
The most common MOT failure on the Citroen Saxo is the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, which caused 458 failures. Other common issues include brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle..
How many Citroen Saxos are on UK roads?
There are 2,494 Citroen Saxos currently licensed on UK roads, with 11,353 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Citroen Saxo at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Citroen Saxo is 64,927 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 51,475 and 89,530 miles.
Buying a used Saxo?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 64.7% pass rate and an average repair bill of £170 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 37.7% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.