Citroen Xsara Picasso MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 22 model years and 2,415 tests, the Citroen Xsara Picasso passes its MOT 67.9% of the time. That is 3.1 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 29.0%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.5% of tests against 14.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and prescribed areas — position lamp alone was recorded 178 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.6% in the 0-30k band and 38.0% in the 150k+ band, a 26.4-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 31.9% of the time against 32.4% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 34.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Xsara Picasso model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 63 | 61.9% | 38.1% | Suspension |
| 2002 | 107 | 61.7% | 38.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 128 | 68.8% | 31.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 235 | 67.2% | 32.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 304 | 65.1% | 34.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 461 | 70.1% | 29.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 397 | 68.8% | 31.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 328 | 67.4% | 32.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 245 | 65.7% | 34.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 133 | 75.9% | 24.1% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.5% | 472 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.8% | 357 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 243 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.8% | 164 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.2% | 149 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.5% | 134 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 122 |
| 8 | Steering | 4.5% | 110 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 178 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 167 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 161 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 157 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 153 |
| 6 | Joints | 115 |
| 7 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 114 |
| 8 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 90 |
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 | 34.8% | 840 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.6% | 715 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.4% | 687 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.7% | 476 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.0% | 458 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.4% | 444 |
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 | 43 | 11.6% |
| 30-60k | 292 | 22.6% |
| 60-90k | 708 | 29.2% |
| 90-120k | 743 | 35.9% |
| 120-150k | 384 | 35.2% |
| 150k+ | 234 | 38.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,446 | 31.9% |
| Diesel | 969 | 32.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 535 | 31.8% |
| 2022 | 576 | 32.3% |
| 2023 | 490 | 31.4% |
| 2024 | 460 | 33.3% |
| 2025 | 354 | 31.6% |
What to check before buying a Citroen Xsara Picasso
- Lighting & signalling (19.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Citroen Xsara Picasso?
67.9% of the 2,415 Citroen Xsara Picasso MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 32.1% fail rate, across model years 2000–2021.
What does the Citroen Xsara Picasso most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.5% of tests, then suspension (14.8%).
How much does mileage affect Xsara Picasso MOT results?
Fail rates run at 11.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 38.0% for 150k+, a 26.4-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Xsara Picasso more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 31.9% of the time against 32.4% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,415 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.