Citroen Zx
From 1,031 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, 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 service brake efficiency below minimum requirement. 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 48 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 | 48 |
| 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. | 37 |
| service brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 37 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 32 |
| body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point | 27 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 25 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 24 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 23 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 21 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 21 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 31.9% of Zx failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 38.3% 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 £158.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 70% while Diesel versions pass at 62.7%, a 7 percentage point gap.
Citroen Zx on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 116 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 116. At this rate, roughly 16.6 years until none remain. Now at 1.4% of its peak (138,183 in 1998 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 251 | 1,674 | +0 | -0 | +1 |
| 2025 Q2 | 251 | 1,673 | +0 | -25 | -25 |
| 2025 Q1 | 265 | 1,684 | +0 | -36 | -36 |
| 2024 Q4 | 272 | 1,713 | +0 | -55 | -55 |
| 2024 Q3 | 298 | 1,742 | +0 | -32 | -32 |
| 2024 Q2 | 311 | 1,761 | +5 | -20 | -15 |
| 2024 Q1 | 325 | 1,762 | +3 | -18 | -15 |
| 2023 Q4 | 335 | 1,767 | +0 | -22 | -22 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 61% | exhaust system leaking or insecure, 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. |
| 1996 | 74% | service brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1995 | 72.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, exhaust system leaking or insecure |
| 1993 | 71.5% | 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, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
Typical mileage
Half of all Zxs tested had between 65,227 and 116,486 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 90,225 median miles, the Zx 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 Zx MOT pass rate?
The Citroen Zx has a 64.8% MOT pass rate based on 1,031 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Citroen Zx?
The most common MOT failure on the Citroen Zx 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 48 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 Zxs are on UK roads?
There are 251 Citroen Zxs currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,674 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Citroen Zx at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Citroen Zx is 90,225 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 65,227 and 116,486 miles.
Buying a used Zx?
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 64.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £158 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 31.9% 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.