Citroen Xsara Picasso
From 488 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc and 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. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 28 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 | 28 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 24 |
| 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 | 23 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 22 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 22 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 19 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 17 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 17 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 14 |
| lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 13 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 22.6% of Xsara Picasso failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 14.1% 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 £99.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 64.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all Xsara Picassos tested had between 79,779 and 133,258 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 100,291 median miles, the Xsara Picasso has 0.039 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 Picasso MOT pass rate?
The Citroen Xsara Picasso has a 60.5% MOT pass rate based on 488 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Citroen Xsara Picasso?
The most common MOT failure on the Citroen Xsara Picasso is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 28 failures. Other common issues include a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
What is the typical mileage of a Citroen Xsara Picasso at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Citroen Xsara Picasso is 100,291 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 79,779 and 133,258 miles.
Buying a used Xsara Picasso?
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 60.5% pass rate and an average repair bill of £99 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.