Citroen Ax Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Citroen Ax car check
Is the Citroen Ax reliable? We analysed 349,985 real MOT tests across 70,119 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Citroen Ax? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Citroen Ax is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake hose excessively deteriorated, constant velocity joint gaiter split and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Citroen Ax.
Citroen Ax Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Citroen Ax. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Citroen Ax MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Citroen Ax to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Citroen Ax Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Citroen Ax fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Citroen Ax Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Citroen Ax owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Citroen Ax MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Citroen Ax year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 106 | 58.5% | 71,109 | 88,724 | 109,277 |
| 1998 | 155 | 63.9% | 35,714 | 69,611 | 98,989 |
| 1997 | 21,086 | 64.2% | 54,986 | 70,668 | 87,492 |
| 1996 | 86,459 | 62.9% | 55,146 | 72,184 | 90,422 |
| 1995 | 88,136 | 62.0% | 60,058 | 77,656 | 96,592 |
| 1994 | 61,942 | 61.7% | 63,954 | 81,605 | 101,297 |
| 1993 | 41,060 | 61.9% | 62,067 | 80,720 | 100,088 |
| 1992 | 22,991 | 63.1% | 59,313 | 79,985 | 101,536 |
| 1991 | 8,555 | 62.0% | 57,890 | 79,414 | 99,041 |
| 1990 | 8,875 | 61.6% | 56,420 | 77,345 | 100,035 |
| 1989 | 5,914 | 63.2% | 50,989 | 72,568 | 97,034 |
| 1988 | 3,875 | 62.9% | 49,803 | 73,564 | 97,022 |
| 1987 | 682 | 61.9% | 39,607 | 57,162 | 76,502 |
| 1971 | 56 | 64.3% | 61,444 | 73,932 | 81,795 |
How Long Does a Citroen Ax Last?
Based on 70,119 Citroen Ax vehicles on UK roads.
Citroen Ax Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Citroen Ax MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Citroen Ax
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
64.3% MOT pass rate from 56 tests
58.5% MOT pass rate from 106 tests
The best year to buy a used Citroen Ax is 1971, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 64.3% across 56 tests. The 1999 model year has the lowest pass rate at 58.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Citroen Ax Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citroen Ax THIS CAR | 62.4% | 349,985 | 76,919 mi | 37 yrs |
| Citroen Xsara | 69.1% | 5,047,330 | 77,497 mi | 28 yrs |
| Citroen Berlingo | 70.1% | 4,453,235 | 83,738 mi | 29 yrs |
| Citroen C3 | 72.7% | 4,435,918 | 53,913 mi | 24 yrs |
| BMW 218 | 86.6% | 371,982 | 42,323 mi | 12 yrs |
Compared to the Citroen Xsara (69.1% pass rate) and the Citroen Berlingo (70.1% pass rate), the Citroen Ax trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Citroen Ax you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Citroen AxShould you buy a used Citroen Ax?
The Citroen Ax has an overall MOT pass rate of 62.4% across 349,985 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.
The most common problems on the Citroen Ax are brake hose excessively deteriorated (29,403 recorded failures), constant velocity joint gaiter split (24,210), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (24,047). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Citroen Ax owner drives around 3,718 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Citroen Ax models stay on UK roads for around 37 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.