2007 Citroen Xsara — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 42,938 MOT tests, the 2007 Citroen Xsara recorded a 69.3% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (26.8% fail rate), the 2007 Xsara comes out 3.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests against 13.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are prescribed areas, position lamp and joints — prescribed areas alone was recorded 3,515 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 36.0% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 30.3% of the time against 31.3% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 32.2% 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 | 18.5% | 7,930 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.7% | 5,869 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.5% | 4,917 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.0% | 3,010 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.8% | 2,912 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.0% | 2,579 |
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 | 3,515 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 3,234 |
| 3 | Joints | 2,913 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 2,816 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,044 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 2,004 |
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 | 32.2% | 13,820 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.1% | 9,915 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.7% | 9,736 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.3% | 7,421 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.6% | 6,262 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 6,260 |
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 | 327 | 19.9% |
| 30-60k | 3,825 | 21.7% |
| 60-90k | 12,702 | 28.7% |
| 90-120k | 15,004 | 32.1% |
| 120-150k | 7,674 | 33.8% |
| 150k+ | 3,248 | 36.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 25,386 | 30.3% |
| Diesel | 17,550 | 31.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,840 | 30.7% |
| 2022 | 10,465 | 30.3% |
| 2023 | 8,347 | 30.7% |
| 2024 | 6,495 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 4,791 | 30.7% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Xsara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.7% 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 (11.5% 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 2007 Citroen Xsaras pass their MOT?
69.3% of the 42,938 2007 Citroen Xsara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Citroen Xsara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests, followed by suspension (13.7%).
Does the 2007 Xsara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.9% in the 0-30k band to 36.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 42,938 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.