2000 Citroen Saxo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,158 MOT tests, the 2000 Citroen Saxo recorded a 68.5% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (29.4% fail rate), the 2000 Saxo comes out 2.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.8%) and emissions & environmental (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 762 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.7% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 614 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 14.1% | 588 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.9% | 535 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 434 |
| 5 | Suspension | 9.9% | 412 |
| 6 | Visibility | 8.0% | 334 |
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 | 762 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 365 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 338 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 246 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 216 |
| 6 | Washers | 212 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 24.6% | 1,023 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.4% | 1,016 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.2% | 966 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.1% | 795 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.3% | 761 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.9% | 577 |
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 | 285 | 23.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,313 | 30.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,374 | 33.1% |
| 90-120k | 813 | 33.2% |
| 120-150k | 251 | 34.3% |
| 150k+ | 101 | 32.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,961 | 31.7% |
| Diesel | 197 | 29.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,251 | 32.0% |
| 2022 | 993 | 32.0% |
| 2023 | 799 | 29.7% |
| 2024 | 635 | 33.1% |
| 2025 | 480 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Saxo
On a 2000 Saxo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (14.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (12.9% 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 2000 Citroen Saxos pass their MOT?
68.5% of the 4,158 2000 Citroen Saxo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Citroen Saxo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (14.1%).
Does the 2000 Saxo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.2% in the 0-30k band to 32.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,158 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.