1995 Citroen Zx — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 501 MOT tests, the 1995 Citroen Zx recorded a 74.3% pass rate. That is 1.4 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.3%. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (12.4%) and suspension (11.8%) 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 headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 44 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.8% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 30.5% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 12.4% | 62 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.8% | 59 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.6% | 58 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 57 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 25 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 21 |
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 | 44 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 32 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 29 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 27 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 26 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 26 |
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 | 33.5% | 168 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.1% | 146 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 24.6% | 123 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.8% | 99 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.6% | 98 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.0% | 65 |
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 | 95 | 16.8% |
| 60-90k | 116 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 112 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 79 | 27.9% |
| 150k+ | 95 | 30.5% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 377 | 26.0% |
| Petrol | 124 | 25.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 143 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 126 | 27.8% |
| 2023 | 96 | 26.0% |
| 2024 | 68 | 20.6% |
| 2025 | 68 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Zx
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 12.4% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (12.4% 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 (11.8% 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 (11.6% 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 1995 Citroen Zxs pass their MOT?
74.3% of the 501 1995 Citroen Zx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Citroen Zx?
Brakes, recorded in 12.4% of tests, followed by suspension (11.8%).
Does the 1995 Zx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.8% in the 30-60k band to 30.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 501 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.