1995 Citroen Ax — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 417 MOT tests, the 1995 Citroen Ax recorded a 71.0% pass rate. That is 4.7 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.3%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (14.4%) and lighting & signalling (12.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake imbalance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 48 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 28.1% in the 30-60k band and 23.2% in the 90-120k band, a 4.8-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 30.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.4% | 60 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 51 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 11.0% | 46 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.6% | 40 |
| 5 | Suspension | 8.4% | 35 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 48 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 35 |
| 3 | Service brake imbalance | 32 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 29 |
| 6 | Joints | 16 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 30.0% | 125 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.3% | 114 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 15.1% | 63 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.6% | 61 |
| 5 | Tyres | 13.7% | 57 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.1% | 38 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 114 | 28.1% |
| 60-90k | 137 | 32.1% |
| 90-120k | 99 | 23.2% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 308 | 28.2% |
| Diesel | 109 | 31.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 103 | 27.2% |
| 2022 | 103 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 86 | 30.2% |
| 2024 | 65 | 29.2% |
| 2025 | 60 | 31.7% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Ax
On a 1995 Ax, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (14.4% 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 (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (11.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1995 Citroen Axs pass their MOT?
71.0% of the 417 1995 Citroen Ax MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Citroen Ax?
Brakes, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.2%).
Does the 1995 Ax get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.1% in the 30-60k band to 23.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 417 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.