2010 Citroen Xsara — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,778 MOT tests, the 2010 Citroen Xsara recorded a 72.9% pass rate. That is 3.0 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests against 11.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, prescribed areas and position lamp — stop lamp alone was recorded 527 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.7% in the 0-30k band and 32.9% in the 150k+ band, a 18.3-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 26.4% of the time against 27.4% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 24.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 1,450 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.6% | 1,018 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.1% | 797 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 510 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.9% | 427 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.7% | 415 |
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 | 527 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 495 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 456 |
| 4 | Joints | 449 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 316 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 310 |
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 | 30.5% | 2,681 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.0% | 1,752 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.6% | 1,370 |
| 4 | Brakes | 15.1% | 1,323 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.9% | 1,308 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 1,015 |
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 | 143 | 14.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,564 | 22.1% |
| 60-90k | 3,126 | 26.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,518 | 29.1% |
| 120-150k | 985 | 31.5% |
| 150k+ | 428 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,092 | 27.4% |
| Diesel | 2,686 | 26.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,113 | 24.9% |
| 2022 | 1,962 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 1,793 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 1,584 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 1,326 | 29.3% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Xsara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.6% 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 (9.1% 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 2010 Citroen Xsaras pass their MOT?
72.9% of the 8,778 2010 Citroen Xsara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Citroen Xsara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by suspension (11.6%).
Does the 2010 Xsara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.7% in the 0-30k band to 32.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,778 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.