Citroen Xantia
From 991 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
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, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen. 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 58 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. 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 | 58 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 50 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 46 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 41 |
| an obvious leak from any part of the system | 40 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 37 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 26 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 22 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 20 |
| fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users | 18 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 23.5% of Xantia failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 20.1% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £132.
Fuel type matters
Diesel versions pass at 70.7% while Petrol versions pass at 62%, a 9 percentage point gap.
Citroen Xantia on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 105 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 105. At this rate, roughly 21.7 years until none remain. Now at 1.7% of its peak (130,722 in 2000 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 276 | 1,980 | +0 | -17 | -17 |
| 2025 Q2 | 286 | 1,987 | +0 | -18 | -18 |
| 2025 Q1 | 304 | 1,987 | +0 | -36 | -36 |
| 2024 Q4 | 308 | 2,019 | +0 | -34 | -34 |
| 2024 Q3 | 337 | 2,024 | +0 | -42 | -42 |
| 2024 Q2 | 356 | 2,047 | +0 | -24 | -24 |
| 2024 Q1 | 359 | 2,068 | +0 | -18 | -18 |
| 2023 Q4 | 366 | 2,079 | +0 | -15 | -15 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 73.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1999 | 65.3% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 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 |
| 1998 | 62.8% | 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, an obvious leak from any part of the system |
| 1997 | 59.3% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 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 |
1 earlier years
| 1996 | 63.8% | tyre obviously under inflated, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Xantias tested had between 90,757 and 138,442 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 104,566 median miles, the Xantia has 0.032 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 Xantia MOT pass rate?
The Citroen Xantia has a 67% MOT pass rate based on 991 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Citroen Xantia?
The most common MOT failure on the Citroen Xantia 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 58 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Citroen Xantias are on UK roads?
There are 276 Citroen Xantias currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,980 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Citroen Xantia at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Citroen Xantia is 104,566 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 90,757 and 138,442 miles.
Buying a used Xantia?
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 67% pass rate and an average repair bill of £132 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.