Citroen Xsara
From 43,137 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Xsaras fare better: 2010 models pass at 65.2% vs 59.5% for 2001.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired and a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 3,092 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 3,092 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 2,465 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,792 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,655 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,575 |
| 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 | 1,541 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,522 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 1,483 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,412 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 1,408 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 40.6% of Xsara failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 17.2% 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 £160.
Citroen Xsara on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 7,177 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 7,177. At this rate, roughly 4.6 years until none remain. Now at 10.1% of its peak (327,969 in 2008 Q3).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 17,972 | 15,100 | +0 | -1,313 | -1,313 |
| 2025 Q2 | 19,298 | 15,087 | +0 | -1,473 | -1,473 |
| 2025 Q1 | 20,707 | 15,151 | +0 | -2,173 | -2,173 |
| 2024 Q4 | 22,514 | 15,517 | +0 | -2,218 | -2,218 |
| 2024 Q3 | 24,174 | 16,075 | +1 | -1,990 | -1,989 |
| 2024 Q2 | 26,052 | 16,186 | +0 | -1,887 | -1,887 |
| 2024 Q1 | 27,883 | 16,242 | +0 | -2,092 | -2,092 |
| 2023 Q4 | 30,040 | 16,177 | +0 | -1,763 | -1,763 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xsara Picasso Desire 16V | Petrol | 4,660 | 29% |
| Xsara Picasso Desire 92 | Petrol | 1,729 | 11% |
| Xsara Picasso Desire 2 | Gas | 1,128 | 7% |
| Xsara Picasso Vtx Hdi | Diesel | 1,104 | 7% |
| Xsara Picasso Vtx 16V | Petrol | 1,002 | 6% |
| Xsara Picasso Desire 2Hdi | Diesel | 965 | 6% |
| Xsara Picasso Desire Hdi | Diesel | 757 | 5% |
| Xsara Picasso Excl 92 | Diesel | 604 | 4% |
| Xsara Picasso Hdi Exclusive | Diesel | 604 | 4% |
| Xsara Picasso Sx Hdi | Gas | 496 | 3% |
| Xsara Picasso Excl Auto | Petrol | 490 | 3% |
| Xsara Picasso Excl 16V | Petrol | 487 | 3% |
| Xsara Picasso Desire Auto | Gas | 397 | 2% |
| Xsara Picasso Sx 8V | Petrol | 340 | 2% |
| Xsara Picasso Lx 8V | Petrol | 310 | 2% |
| Xsara Lx 8V | Petrol | 288 | 2% |
| Xsara Picasso Sx 16V | Gas | 243 | 1% |
| Xsara Picasso Exclusive | Diesel | 238 | 1% |
| Xsara Picasso Exclusive A | Gas | 216 | 1% |
| Xsara Picasso Lx 16V | Diesel | 203 | 1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 65.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2009 | 63.8% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2008 | 61.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2007 | 61.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
9 earlier years
| 2006 | 62.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2005 | 60.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2004 | 61.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 |
| 2003 | 62.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 |
| 2002 | 62.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 |
| 2001 | 59.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2000 | 64.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 1999 | 52.5% | emissions levels exceed default limits, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated |
| 1998 | 61.9% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a tyre seriously damaged |
Typical mileage
Half of all Xsaras tested had between 73,249 and 118,290 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 94,332 median miles, the Xsara has 0.04 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 Xsara MOT pass rate?
The Citroen Xsara has a 62% MOT pass rate based on 43,137 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Citroen Xsara?
The most common MOT failure on the Citroen Xsara is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 3,092 failures. Other common issues include the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired.
How many Citroen Xsaras are on UK roads?
There are 17,972 Citroen Xsaras currently licensed on UK roads, with 15,100 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Citroen Xsara at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Citroen Xsara is 94,332 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 73,249 and 118,290 miles.
Buying a used Xsara?
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 62% pass rate and an average repair bill of £160 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 40.6% 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.