Citroen Zx MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 31 model years and 2,706 tests, the Citroen Zx passes its MOT 72.4% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 24.4% of the time, so this is 3.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (14.3%) and lighting & signalling (12.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake imbalance — service brake performance alone was recorded 223 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Zx fails 28.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 28.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.5 points.
The diesel cars hold up better: 25.9% fail against 31.1% for petrol, a 5.2-point gap across 2,706 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.3% in 2021 to 24.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Zx model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 35 | 74.3% | 25.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 200 | 73.5% | 26.5% | Brakes |
| 1993 | 316 | 71.8% | 28.2% | Brakes |
| 1994 | 312 | 71.2% | 28.8% | Brakes |
| 1995 | 501 | 74.3% | 25.8% | Brakes |
| 1996 | 538 | 71.4% | 28.6% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 695 | 72.4% | 27.6% | Brakes |
| 1998 | 100 | 70.0% | 30.0% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.3% | 387 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 334 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.0% | 326 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 253 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 156 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.4% | 146 |
| 7 | Tyres | 3.9% | 105 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.5% | 69 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 223 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 196 |
| 3 | Service brake imbalance | 143 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 142 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 134 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 119 |
| 7 | Prescribed areas | 90 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 87 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.3% | 873 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.9% | 862 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 25.9% | 700 |
| 4 | Tyres | 23.1% | 625 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.9% | 539 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.7% | 424 |
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 | 50 | 28.0% |
| 30-60k | 404 | 22.5% |
| 60-90k | 681 | 26.4% |
| 90-120k | 671 | 30.0% |
| 120-150k | 419 | 29.4% |
| 150k+ | 480 | 28.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,838 | 25.9% |
| Petrol | 868 | 31.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 767 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 649 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 532 | 29.5% |
| 2024 | 409 | 26.9% |
| 2025 | 349 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a Citroen Zx
- Brakes (14.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.0% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Citroen Zx?
72.4% of the 2,706 Citroen Zx MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.6% fail rate, across model years 1991–2021.
What does the Citroen Zx most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 14.3% of tests, then lighting & signalling (12.3%).
How much does mileage affect Zx MOT results?
Fail rates run at 28.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 28.5% for 150k+, a 0.5-point difference.
Is the diesel or petrol Zx more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the diesel fails 25.9% of the time against 31.1% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,706 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.