2004 Citroen Xsara — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 28,398 MOT tests, the 2004 Citroen Xsara recorded a 69.0% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (28.0% fail rate), the 2004 Xsara comes out 3.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.3% of all tests — 5.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 1,990 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 34.4% versus 20.8%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 30.7% of the time against 31.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 34.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.3% | 5,774 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.9% | 4,243 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.3% | 2,649 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 2,629 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.9% | 2,238 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.3% | 1,793 |
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 | 1,990 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 1,937 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,795 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,670 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 1,658 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,485 |
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% | 9,854 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.9% | 9,072 |
| 3 | Suspension | 29.4% | 8,353 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 22.1% | 6,287 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 4,268 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.6% | 4,159 |
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 | 226 | 20.8% |
| 30-60k | 2,136 | 23.9% |
| 60-90k | 6,095 | 28.3% |
| 90-120k | 8,735 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 6,611 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 4,510 | 34.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 15,421 | 30.7% |
| Diesel | 12,977 | 31.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,860 | 31.7% |
| 2022 | 7,082 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 5,209 | 30.5% |
| 2024 | 3,706 | 30.3% |
| 2025 | 2,541 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Xsara
On a 2004 Xsara, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.9% 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.
- Brakes (9.3% 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 2004 Citroen Xsaras pass their MOT?
69.0% of the 28,398 2004 Citroen Xsara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Citroen Xsara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.3% of tests, followed by suspension (14.9%).
Does the 2004 Xsara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.8% in the 0-30k band to 34.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,398 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.