1994 Citroen Zx — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1994 Citroen Zx passed 71.2% of its 312 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 23.9% of the time, so this is 4.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (14.7%) and suspension (14.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and service brake imbalance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 41 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.8% in the 60-90k band and 34.7% in the 150k+ band, a 13.9-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.2% in 2021 to 23.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.7% | 46 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.7% | 46 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 41 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.6% | 30 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 17 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 41 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 25 |
| 3 | Service brake imbalance | 19 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 18 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 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 | 34.3% | 107 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 29.8% | 93 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.2% | 88 |
| 4 | Tyres | 24.0% | 75 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.4% | 70 |
| 6 | Other defects | 17.3% | 54 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 101 | 20.8% |
| 90-120k | 87 | 28.7% |
| 120-150k | 37 | 40.5% |
| 150k+ | 49 | 34.7% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 230 | 26.5% |
| Petrol | 82 | 35.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 84 | 26.2% |
| 2022 | 77 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 66 | 34.8% |
| 2024 | 46 | 34.8% |
| 2025 | 39 | 23.1% |
What to check before buying a 1994 Zx
On a 1994 Zx, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (14.7% 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 (14.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.1% 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 1994 Citroen Zxs pass their MOT?
71.2% of the 312 1994 Citroen Zx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Citroen Zx?
Brakes, recorded in 14.7% of tests, followed by suspension (14.7%).
Does the 1994 Zx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.8% in the 60-90k band to 34.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 312 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.