Citroen Bx MOT pass rate & common failures
The Citroen Bx appears in 1,669 MOT tests spanning model years 1983–2018, and 75.1% of them passed. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.0%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.8%) and suspension (11.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, steering rack and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 121 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.1% versus 20.0%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 23.4% fail against 26.6% for diesel, a 3.1-point gap across 1,669 tests.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 28.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.0% in 2021 to 22.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Bx model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 46 | 73.9% | 26.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1986 | 40 | 77.5% | 22.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 40 | 77.5% | 22.5% | Brakes |
| 1988 | 132 | 81.1% | 18.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 229 | 72.5% | 27.5% | Suspension |
| 1990 | 325 | 72.3% | 27.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 302 | 76.2% | 23.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 325 | 74.5% | 25.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 192 | 76.0% | 24.0% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 231 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.7% | 196 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 146 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.5% | 126 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.0% | 101 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.4% | 90 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 80 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.2% | 37 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 121 |
| 2 | Steering rack | 88 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 83 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 80 |
| 5 | Joints | 70 |
| 6 | Washers | 64 |
| 7 | Service brake performance | 61 |
| 8 | Pipes | 52 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 28.6% | 478 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.1% | 385 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.3% | 306 |
| 4 | Suspension | 16.4% | 274 |
| 5 | Tyres | 12.0% | 200 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.7% | 179 |
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 | 35 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 197 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 348 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 337 | 20.5% |
| 120-150k | 324 | 27.2% |
| 150k+ | 424 | 28.1% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 909 | 23.4% |
| Diesel | 760 | 26.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 373 | 30.0% |
| 2022 | 361 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 342 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 293 | 23.5% |
| 2025 | 300 | 22.3% |
What to check before buying a Citroen Bx
- Lighting & signalling (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.7% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.8% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Citroen Bx?
75.1% of the 1,669 Citroen Bx MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 24.9% fail rate, across model years 1983–2018.
What does the Citroen Bx most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.8% of tests, then suspension (11.7%).
How much does mileage affect Bx MOT results?
Fail rates run at 20.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 28.1% for 150k+, a 8.1-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Bx more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 23.4% of the time against 26.6% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,669 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.