1999 Citroen Xantia — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Citroen Xantia passed 72.0% of its 549 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (26.2% fail rate), the 1999 Xantia comes out 1.9pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 15.3% of all tests — 4.4 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and washers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 35 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 Xantia fails 25.0% of the time in the 60-90k band and 28.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.5 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.3% | 84 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 60 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 47 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.7% | 37 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 29 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 35 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 23 |
| 3 | Washers | 23 |
| 4 | Steering rack | 23 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 20 |
| 6 | Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas | 19 |
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 | 20.6% | 113 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 17.1% | 94 |
| 3 | Other defects | 16.0% | 88 |
| 4 | Brakes | 15.8% | 87 |
| 5 | Suspension | 14.6% | 80 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 54 |
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 | 88 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 165 | 31.5% |
| 120-150k | 113 | 30.1% |
| 150k+ | 151 | 28.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 339 | 26.8% |
| Petrol | 210 | 30.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 150 | 26.0% |
| 2022 | 117 | 22.2% |
| 2023 | 109 | 30.3% |
| 2024 | 97 | 32.0% |
| 2025 | 76 | 32.9% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Xantia
On a 1999 Xantia, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.3% 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 (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.6% 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 Xantias pass their MOT?
72.0% of the 549 1999 Citroen Xantia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Citroen Xantia?
Suspension, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.9%).
Does the 1999 Xantia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.0% in the 60-90k band to 28.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 549 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.