Aixam Crossline MOT pass rate & common failures
The Aixam Crossline appears in 1,716 MOT tests spanning model years 2002–2019, and 76.6% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (15.0% fail rate), the Crossline comes out 8.4pp worse. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (11.4%) and lighting & signalling (9.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, ball joint and wheel bearings — service brake performance alone was recorded 183 times.
The petrol cars hold up better: 21.1% fail against 28.0% for diesel, a 6.9-point gap across 1,716 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.1% in 2021 to 21.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Crossline model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 36 | 80.6% | 19.4% | Brakes |
| 2014 | 361 | 72.0% | 28.0% | Brakes |
| 2015 | 349 | 79.1% | 20.9% | Brakes |
| 2016 | 332 | 80.7% | 19.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 356 | 77.0% | 23.0% | Brakes |
| 2018 | 208 | 74.0% | 26.0% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.4% | 195 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 160 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.3% | 142 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 94 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.3% | 57 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.7% | 47 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 47 |
| 8 | Tyres | 1.8% | 31 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 183 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 98 |
| 3 | Wheel bearings | 67 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 64 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 63 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 59 |
| 7 | Exhaust system | 56 |
| 8 | Catalyst emissions | 45 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 27.0% | 464 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.1% | 311 |
| 3 | Tyres | 14.3% | 246 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 135 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.0% | 85 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.7% | 63 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,346 | 21.8% |
| 30-60k | 341 | 29.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,133 | 21.1% |
| Diesel | 583 | 28.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 395 | 24.1% |
| 2022 | 386 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 351 | 23.6% |
| 2024 | 304 | 21.1% |
| 2025 | 280 | 21.1% |
What to check before buying a Aixam Crossline
- Brakes (11.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Aixam Crossline?
76.6% of the 1,716 Aixam Crossline MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 23.4% fail rate, across model years 2002–2019.
What does the Aixam Crossline most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 11.4% of tests, then lighting & signalling (9.3%).
Is the petrol or diesel Crossline more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 21.1% of the time against 28.0% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,716 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.