1998 Citroen Xsara — MOT failures & pass rate
539 MOT tests on the 1998 Citroen Xsara are in this dataset, and 70.9% of them passed. That is 2.1 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.1%) and brakes (12.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and wipers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 47 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 31.3% versus 24.2%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 65 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.1% | 65 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.5% | 51 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.5% | 51 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.7% | 47 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 34 |
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 | 47 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 35 |
| 3 | Wipers | 29 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 25 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 24 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 36.5% | 197 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.4% | 169 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 29.7% | 160 |
| 4 | Tyres | 28.0% | 151 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.0% | 124 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 78 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 120 | 24.2% |
| 60-90k | 163 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 107 | 30.8% |
| 120-150k | 68 | 33.8% |
| 150k+ | 64 | 31.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 336 | 30.4% |
| Diesel | 203 | 27.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 148 | 29.0% |
| 2022 | 130 | 29.2% |
| 2023 | 102 | 25.5% |
| 2024 | 93 | 32.3% |
| 2025 | 66 | 30.3% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Xsara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.1% 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.
- Suspension (9.5% 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.
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 Xsaras pass their MOT?
70.9% of the 539 1998 Citroen Xsara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Citroen Xsara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.1% of tests, followed by brakes (12.1%).
Does the 1998 Xsara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.2% in the 30-60k band to 31.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 539 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.