1991 Citroen Bx — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 302 MOT tests, the 1991 Citroen Bx recorded a 76.2% pass rate. That is 1.5 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.3%) and suspension (11.9%) 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 service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 24 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1991 Bx fails 27.9% of the time in the 60-90k band and 30.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.6 points.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 34.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.3% in 2021 to 22.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 37 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.9% | 36 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 21 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.3% | 16 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.6% | 14 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 10 |
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 | 24 |
| 2 | Steering rack | 15 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 13 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 11 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 6 | Joints | 9 |
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 | 34.1% | 103 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.2% | 61 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.2% | 58 |
| 4 | Suspension | 14.6% | 44 |
| 5 | Tyres | 10.9% | 33 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 21 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 43 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 74 | 16.2% |
| 120-150k | 82 | 23.2% |
| 150k+ | 72 | 30.6% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 157 | 20.4% |
| Diesel | 145 | 27.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 66 | 27.3% |
| 2022 | 75 | 28.0% |
| 2023 | 57 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 50 | 16.0% |
| 2025 | 54 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Bx
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.9% 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 (7.0% 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
How many 1991 Citroen Bxs pass their MOT?
76.2% of the 302 1991 Citroen Bx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Citroen Bx?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by suspension (11.9%).
Does the 1991 Bx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.9% in the 60-90k band to 30.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 302 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.