1993 Citroen Zx — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 316 MOT tests, the 1993 Citroen Zx recorded a 71.8% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (23.5% fail rate), the 1993 Zx comes out 4.7pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (16.5%) and suspension (13.9%) 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 38 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.8% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 24.4% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 28.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.9% in 2021 to 25.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 16.5% | 52 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.9% | 44 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 34 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 25 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.3% | 23 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 13 |
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 | 38 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 35 |
| 3 | Service brake imbalance | 17 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 17 |
| 5 | Joints | 16 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 14 |
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 | 28.8% | 91 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.6% | 84 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 18.7% | 59 |
| 4 | Tyres | 17.4% | 55 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.5% | 49 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.5% | 30 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 32 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 67 | 26.9% |
| 90-120k | 95 | 34.7% |
| 120-150k | 79 | 27.9% |
| 150k+ | 41 | 24.4% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 260 | 27.7% |
| Petrol | 56 | 30.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 75 | 28.0% |
| 2023 | 61 | 32.8% |
| 2024 | 55 | 25.4% |
| 2025 | 39 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 1993 Zx
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 16.5% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (16.5% 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.
- Suspension (13.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 1993 Citroen Zxs pass their MOT?
71.8% of the 316 1993 Citroen Zx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Citroen Zx?
Brakes, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by suspension (13.9%).
Does the 1993 Zx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.8% in the 30-60k band to 24.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 316 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.