2001 Citroen Xsara — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,724 MOT tests, the 2001 Citroen Xsara recorded a 67.8% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.9% of the time, so this is 4.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.4% of tests against 14.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, prescribed areas and joints — headlamp aim alone was recorded 523 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2001 Xsara fails 34.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 35.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.9 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 31.8% of the time against 33.1% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.4% in 2021 to 30.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 1,518 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.1% | 1,233 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.7% | 1,111 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.2% | 798 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.3% | 637 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.6% | 578 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 523 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 500 |
| 3 | Joints | 495 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 473 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 459 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 452 |
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 | 34.7% | 3,029 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.3% | 2,642 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.2% | 2,287 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.0% | 1,918 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 20.7% | 1,807 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.2% | 1,674 |
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 | 115 | 34.8% |
| 30-60k | 748 | 25.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,877 | 29.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,246 | 31.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,912 | 34.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,736 | 35.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,703 | 31.8% |
| Diesel | 3,016 | 33.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,113 | 33.4% |
| 2022 | 2,161 | 31.5% |
| 2023 | 1,553 | 31.3% |
| 2024 | 1,115 | 32.6% |
| 2025 | 782 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Xsara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.1% 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 (12.7% 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
How many 2001 Citroen Xsaras pass their MOT?
67.8% of the 8,724 2001 Citroen Xsara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Citroen Xsara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.4% of tests, followed by suspension (14.1%).
Does the 2001 Xsara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 34.8% in the 0-30k band to 35.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,724 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.