1998 Citroen Saxo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Citroen Saxo passed 69.0% of its 855 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (29.3% fail rate), the 1998 Saxo comes out 1.7pp worse. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (15.6%) and brakes (15.0%) 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 184 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.0% once past 120-150k — 2.1× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 35.1% in 2021 to 29.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 15.6% | 133 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.0% | 128 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.2% | 104 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 100 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 96 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.2% | 53 |
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 | 184 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 116 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 86 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 58 |
| 5 | Joints | 39 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 39 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 30.3% | 259 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.5% | 192 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.3% | 191 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.1% | 146 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.4% | 140 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.8% | 101 |
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 | 65 | 16.9% |
| 30-60k | 273 | 31.5% |
| 60-90k | 300 | 34.7% |
| 90-120k | 146 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 40 | 35.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 811 | 31.2% |
| Diesel | 44 | 27.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 271 | 35.1% |
| 2022 | 185 | 28.1% |
| 2023 | 157 | 30.6% |
| 2024 | 124 | 28.2% |
| 2025 | 118 | 29.7% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Saxo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 15.6% of tests. Start there.
- Emissions & environmental (15.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (15.0% 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.
- Suspension (12.2% 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.
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 1998 Citroen Saxos pass their MOT?
69.0% of the 855 1998 Citroen Saxo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Citroen Saxo?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by brakes (15.0%).
Does the 1998 Saxo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.9% in the 0-30k band to 35.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 855 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.