2005 Citroen Xsara — MOT failures & pass rate
31,887 MOT tests on the 2005 Citroen Xsara are in this dataset, and 67.9% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (27.8% fail rate), the 2005 Xsara comes out 4.4pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests against 14.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are prescribed areas, position lamp and stop lamp — prescribed areas alone was recorded 2,785 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 24.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 36.6% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 31.8% of the time against 32.5% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 31.7% 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 | 19.7% | 6,271 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.5% | 4,619 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 3,580 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.5% | 3,041 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.1% | 2,260 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.6% | 2,103 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prescribed areas | 2,785 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 2,309 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 2,050 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,754 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,715 |
| 6 | Joints | 1,581 |
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 | 31.7% | 10,120 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.1% | 9,271 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.4% | 8,429 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.3% | 5,847 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.6% | 4,966 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.6% | 4,672 |
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 | 252 | 24.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,365 | 23.9% |
| 60-90k | 7,780 | 29.4% |
| 90-120k | 10,429 | 32.8% |
| 120-150k | 7,149 | 34.4% |
| 150k+ | 3,795 | 36.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 16,159 | 31.8% |
| Diesel | 15,728 | 32.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,791 | 32.3% |
| 2022 | 8,030 | 32.3% |
| 2023 | 5,928 | 32.1% |
| 2024 | 4,166 | 32.0% |
| 2025 | 2,972 | 31.5% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Xsara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.2% 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 2005 Citroen Xsaras pass their MOT?
67.9% of the 31,887 2005 Citroen Xsara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Citroen Xsara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests, followed by suspension (14.5%).
Does the 2005 Xsara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.6% in the 0-30k band to 36.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,887 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.