1992 Citroen Bx — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1992 Citroen Bx passed 74.5% of its 325 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.6 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.5%) and suspension (13.2%) 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, pipes and steering rack — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 29 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1992 Bx fails 27.9% of the time in the 60-90k band and 28.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.4 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: emissions & environmental was flagged on 29.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.7% in 2021 to 24.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 47 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.2% | 43 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.8% | 32 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 29 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.5% | 21 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.5% | 18 |
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 | 29 |
| 2 | Pipes | 20 |
| 3 | Steering rack | 19 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 17 |
| 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 | Emissions & environmental | 29.8% | 97 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.5% | 86 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.9% | 84 |
| 4 | Suspension | 22.1% | 72 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.9% | 55 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.0% | 52 |
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 | 61 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 42 | 16.7% |
| 120-150k | 84 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 106 | 28.3% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 217 | 27.2% |
| Petrol | 108 | 22.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 74 | 25.7% |
| 2022 | 75 | 26.7% |
| 2023 | 63 | 20.6% |
| 2024 | 59 | 30.5% |
| 2025 | 54 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 1992 Bx
On a 1992 Bx, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.2% 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.
- Brakes (9.8% 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.
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 1992 Citroen Bxs pass their MOT?
74.5% of the 325 1992 Citroen Bx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Citroen Bx?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests, followed by suspension (13.2%).
Does the 1992 Bx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.9% in the 60-90k band to 28.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 325 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.