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Citroen Xsara MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Citroen Xsara. Check any Xsara by registration number below.

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71.9%

Avg Pass Rate

-12.8%

vs Citroen Avg

17

Year Ranges

Average

Reliability

Citroen Xsara — MOT Reliability Overview

The Citroen Xsara has an average MOT pass rate of 71.9%, which is 12.8 percentage points below the Citroen brand average of 84.7%. This is a reasonable result that reflects typical UK reliability standards. Regular servicing and addressing advisories promptly will help keep your Xsara on the road.

The most common reasons a Citroen Xsara fails its MOT are 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., a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen. If you are preparing your Xsara for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used Citroen Xsara, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Citroen Xsara performs at MOT across different model years.

2011

Based on 114 vehicles

93.0%Excellent
Citroen average: 84.7%
Mileage at 5yr

141k mi

2010

Based on 3,076 vehicles

62.8%Below Average
Citroen average: 84.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.9%

Retest Rate

31.6%

2009

Based on 5,908 vehicles

62.3%Below Average
Citroen average: 84.7%
Dangerous Defects

6.3%

Retest Rate

32.7%

2008

Based on 7,243 vehicles

56.8%Below Average
Citroen average: 84.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.0%

Retest Rate

37.0%

2007

Based on 13,075 vehicles

57.4%Below Average
Citroen average: 84.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.6%

Retest Rate

35.6%

2006

Based on 14,054 vehicles

58.6%Below Average
Citroen average: 84.7%
Dangerous Defects

6.9%

Retest Rate

35.0%

2005

Based on 8,922 vehicles

56.0%Below Average
Citroen average: 84.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.3%

Retest Rate

34.1%

2004

Based on 7,930 vehicles

58.8%Below Average
Citroen average: 84.7%
Dangerous Defects

8.0%

Retest Rate

33.6%

2003

Based on 5,194 vehicles

55.2%Below Average
Citroen average: 84.7%
Dangerous Defects

8.4%

Retest Rate

37.5%

2002

Based on 3,798 vehicles

58.4%Below Average
Citroen average: 84.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.9%

Retest Rate

31.2%

2001

Based on 17,037 vehicles

90.8%Excellent
Citroen average: 84.7%
Dangerous Defects

8.2%

Retest Rate

35.5%

Mileage at 10yr

141k mi

2000

Based on 15,319 vehicles

89.5%Excellent
Citroen average: 84.7%
Dangerous Defects

8.1%

Retest Rate

34.5%

Mileage at 10yr

142k mi

1999

Based on 19,472 vehicles

88.6%Excellent
Citroen average: 84.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.4%

Retest Rate

29.8%

Mileage at 10yr

138k mi

1998

Based on 19,521 vehicles

88.1%Excellent
Citroen average: 84.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.2%

Retest Rate

22.6%

Mileage at 10yr

140k mi

1997

Based on 4,647 vehicles

86.9%Excellent
Citroen average: 84.7%

1996

Based on 493 vehicles

90.9%Excellent
Citroen average: 84.7%

0

Based on 46,898 vehicles

68.9%Average
Citroen average: 84.7%
Mileage at 5yr

104k mi

Top MOT Failures — Citroen Xsara

The most common reasons a Citroen Xsara fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

1

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.

4.7%
2

A tyre seriously damaged

4.1%
3

Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen

3.9%
4

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

3.9%
5

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

3.6%

Citroen Xsara — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Citroen Xsara MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Citroen Xsara?
The average MOT pass rate for the Citroen Xsara is 71.9% compared to the Citroen average of 84.7%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.
What are the most common MOT failures on a Citroen Xsara?
The most common MOT failures on the Citroen Xsara are: 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. (4.7%), A tyre seriously damaged (4.1%), Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen (3.9%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.
Is the Citroen Xsara reliable?
With an average MOT pass rate of 71.9%, the Citroen Xsara is rated as "Average" for reliability. This is around average — regular maintenance is recommended to avoid common failure points.
How do I check the MOT history of a Citroen Xsara?
Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.
What mileage should I expect on a Citroen Xsara?
Typical mileage for the Citroen Xsara: 141,394 miles at 5 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used Xsara to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Citroen Xsara's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.

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