1997 Citroen Saxo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 902 MOT tests, the 1997 Citroen Saxo recorded a 68.7% pass rate. That is 2.3 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 29.0%. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (14.5%) and brakes (14.1%) 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 performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 177 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.2% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 24.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.8% in 2021 to 24.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 14.5% | 131 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 127 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 111 |
| 4 | Suspension | 11.9% | 107 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 94 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.8% | 52 |
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 | 177 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 98 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 90 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 52 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 50 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 43 |
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 | 24.9% | 225 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.9% | 216 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.7% | 178 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.6% | 168 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.9% | 152 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.2% | 137 |
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 | 47 | 25.5% |
| 30-60k | 280 | 29.3% |
| 60-90k | 369 | 33.3% |
| 90-120k | 137 | 32.1% |
| 120-150k | 41 | 34.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 848 | 30.8% |
| Diesel | 54 | 38.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 250 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 212 | 28.8% |
| 2023 | 164 | 36.0% |
| 2024 | 150 | 32.7% |
| 2025 | 126 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Saxo
On a 1997 Saxo, emissions & environmental is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Emissions & environmental (14.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (14.1% 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 (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 1997 Citroen Saxos pass their MOT?
68.7% of the 902 1997 Citroen Saxo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Citroen Saxo?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 14.5% of tests, followed by brakes (14.1%).
Does the 1997 Saxo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.5% in the 0-30k band to 34.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 902 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.