MOT performance
Citroen Xsara diesel: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 25,497 MOT tests on diesel Citroen Xsaras in 2023–2024 (on average 17.2 years old at test, median 113,404 miles), 49.1% passed first time, against 50.5% of 35,744 petrol Citroen Xsara tests. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, diesel Citroen Xsaras failed 19% more often than comparable cars — 1.19× against 1.16× for the Citroen Xsara as a whole.
25,497 MOT tests on 14,538 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 49.1% | ±0.6 pts (95%), n = 25,497 |
| All Citroen Xsaras | 50.0% | n = 61,243 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.19× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00; Citroen Xsara overall 1.16× |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 11.2% | n = 25,497 |
| Average age at test | 17.2 years | n = 25,497 |
| Registration years covered | 1998–2021 | DVSA first-use date |
Diesel against the other Citroen Xsara fuels
Official DVSA test results by fuel, with 73 Auto's adjusted ratio (failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel).
| Fuel | Tests | Average age | First-time pass | vs similar cars | Dangerous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 35,744 | 17.1 yrs | 50.5% | +14% | 10.2% |
| Diesel | 25,497 | 17.2 yrs | 49.1% | +19% | 11.2% |
Where diesel Citroen Xsaras differ
- Noise, emissions and leaks: diesel Citroen Xsaras failed 69% more often than the Citroen Xsara overall, relative to comparable cars (1.62× vs 0.96×).
- Steering: diesel Citroen Xsaras failed 22% less often than the Citroen Xsara overall, relative to comparable cars (1.25× vs 1.61×).
| Area | Diesel (vs similar) | All Citroen Xsaras (vs similar) |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 26.0% (+30%) | 25.7% (+24%) |
| Suspension | 19.3% (+8%) | 18.8% (+11%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 15.1% (+62%) | 14.7% (+74%) |
| Brakes | 11.5% (-17%) | 10.5% (-17%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 8.8% (+201%) | 8.0% (+217%) |
| Tyres | 8.1% (+17%) | 8.0% (+15%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.5% (+62%) | 6.1% (-4%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 7.0% (+1%) | 7.2% (Same) |
| Steering | 5.8% (+25%) | 6.2% (+61%) |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.4% (-30%) | 0.4% (-26%) |
Most common diesel Citroen Xsara failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 7.66% |
| Prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced | Seat belts and airbags | 7.09% |
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 7.01% |
| Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | Body, chassis and structure | 5.94% |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | Suspension | 3.71% |
Pass rate by age, by fuel
| Age at test (years) | diesel pass rate (tests) | petrol pass rate (tests) |
|---|---|---|
| 11-12 | — | 54.6% (346) |
| 13-15 | 49.8% (5,893) | 53.0% (8,827) |
| 16+ | 48.9% (19,407) | 49.7% (26,571) |
Citroen Xsara by registration year
Registration-year pages cover every fuel of that year.
- 2002 Citroen Xsara · 52.4%
- 2003 Citroen Xsara · 48.7%
- 2004 Citroen Xsara · 50.2%
- 2005 Citroen Xsara · 46.9%
- 2006 Citroen Xsara · 50.4%
- 2007 Citroen Xsara · 49.0%
- 2008 Citroen Xsara · 49.0%
- 2009 Citroen Xsara · 53.9%
- 2010 Citroen Xsara · 54.4%
What this does and doesn't tell you
Fuel is DVSA's recorded fuel type; plug-in and self-charging hybrids are grouped as hybrid. A difference between fuels can come from the engines themselves, or from how the cars are used — diesels typically cover more miles, and the adjusted ratio allows for mileage band but not for every difference in use. For one car, its own MOT history is the better guide: see MOT check.
Check a specific diesel Citroen Xsara
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.