1998 Citroen Xantia — MOT failures & pass rate
362 MOT tests on the 1998 Citroen Xantia are in this dataset, and 70.7% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 25.7% of the time, so this is 3.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.3%) and lighting & signalling (10.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are steering rack, service brake performance and washers — steering rack alone was recorded 26 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.0% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 34.6% once past 150k.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 24.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.1% in 2021 to 24.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.3% | 48 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 39 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.1% | 33 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.2% | 26 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.2% | 26 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steering rack | 26 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 20 |
| 3 | Washers | 15 |
| 4 | Wipers | 15 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 15 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 13 |
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 | 24.6% | 89 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.3% | 77 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.3% | 77 |
| 4 | Suspension | 16.6% | 60 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.2% | 44 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.9% | 43 |
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 | 116 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 79 | 27.9% |
| 120-150k | 62 | 33.9% |
| 150k+ | 78 | 34.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 206 | 29.6% |
| Diesel | 156 | 28.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 103 | 31.1% |
| 2022 | 78 | 32.0% |
| 2023 | 74 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 54 | 27.8% |
| 2025 | 53 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Xantia
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.1% 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.
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 Xantias pass their MOT?
70.7% of the 362 1998 Citroen Xantia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Citroen Xantia?
Suspension, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.8%).
Does the 1998 Xantia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.0% in the 60-90k band to 34.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 362 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.