1999 Citroen Saxo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,221 MOT tests, the 1999 Citroen Saxo recorded a 68.0% pass rate. That is 2.7 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 29.4%. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Emissions & environmental dominates the failure mix at 17.1% of all tests — 4.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 302 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 31.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 38.6% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.1% in 2021 to 31.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 17.1% | 209 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.8% | 156 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.7% | 143 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.3% | 138 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 135 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 65 |
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 | 302 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 213 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 79 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 61 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 57 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 55 |
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 | 27.5% | 336 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.6% | 312 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.5% | 275 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.2% | 246 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.8% | 168 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.9% | 157 |
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 | 93 | 31.2% |
| 30-60k | 447 | 29.5% |
| 60-90k | 385 | 34.0% |
| 90-120k | 173 | 35.3% |
| 120-150k | 78 | 26.9% |
| 150k+ | 44 | 38.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,167 | 32.0% |
| Diesel | 54 | 31.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 368 | 33.1% |
| 2022 | 275 | 30.9% |
| 2023 | 228 | 32.9% |
| 2024 | 188 | 30.9% |
| 2025 | 162 | 31.5% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Saxo
On a 1999 Saxo, emissions & environmental is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Emissions & environmental (17.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (12.8% 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 (11.7% 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 1999 Citroen Saxos pass their MOT?
68.0% of the 1,221 1999 Citroen Saxo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Citroen Saxo?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 17.1% of tests, followed by suspension (12.8%).
Does the 1999 Saxo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.2% in the 0-30k band to 38.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,221 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.