2009 Citroen Xsara — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Citroen Xsara passed 72.3% of its 17,610 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (25.2% fail rate), the 2009 Xsara comes out 2.4pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.2% of tests against 12.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, prescribed areas and position lamp — stop lamp alone was recorded 1,125 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.6% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 27.3% of the time against 28.5% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 3,028 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.9% | 2,275 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 1,584 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.5% | 964 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.0% | 879 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.6% | 809 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 1,125 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 1,120 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,067 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 845 |
| 5 | Joints | 839 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 737 |
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 | 30.6% | 5,386 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.7% | 3,648 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.4% | 3,071 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.5% | 2,730 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.9% | 2,621 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 2,548 |
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 | 353 | 13.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,774 | 20.7% |
| 60-90k | 5,947 | 26.7% |
| 90-120k | 5,243 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,310 | 32.2% |
| 150k+ | 959 | 33.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 11,662 | 27.3% |
| Diesel | 5,948 | 28.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,449 | 26.7% |
| 2022 | 4,021 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 3,595 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 3,032 | 28.6% |
| 2025 | 2,513 | 28.7% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Xsara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.9% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.0% 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 2009 Citroen Xsaras pass their MOT?
72.3% of the 17,610 2009 Citroen Xsara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Citroen Xsara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by suspension (12.9%).
Does the 2009 Xsara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.6% in the 0-30k band to 33.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,610 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.