Citroen Xsara Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Citroen Xsara car check
Is the Citroen Xsara reliable? We analysed 5,047,330 real MOT tests across 355,498 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Citroen Xsara? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Citroen Xsara is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, registration plate lamp not working and stop lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Citroen Xsara.
Citroen Xsara Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Citroen Xsara. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Citroen Xsara MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Citroen Xsara to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Citroen Xsara Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Citroen Xsara fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Citroen Xsara Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Citroen Xsara owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Citroen Xsara MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Citroen Xsara year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 78 | 70.5% | 55,985 | 71,212 | 100,566 |
| 2010 | 29,538 | 74.2% | 39,517 | 62,000 | 88,804 |
| 2009 | 68,935 | 73.3% | 40,480 | 64,294 | 91,736 |
| 2008 | 123,424 | 72.0% | 46,002 | 70,413 | 97,476 |
| 2007 | 292,615 | 72.0% | 44,896 | 69,285 | 96,236 |
| 2006 | 445,352 | 71.8% | 44,320 | 68,204 | 94,692 |
| 2005 | 490,933 | 69.6% | 46,849 | 71,718 | 99,678 |
| 2004 | 641,859 | 69.7% | 48,809 | 74,411 | 103,341 |
| 2003 | 666,900 | 70.2% | 50,782 | 76,809 | 106,167 |
| 2002 | 852,173 | 68.6% | 56,058 | 80,795 | 109,113 |
| 2001 | 829,054 | 67.4% | 60,365 | 83,007 | 109,064 |
| 2000 | 322,470 | 65.8% | 62,631 | 84,009 | 109,028 |
| 1999 | 136,259 | 65.0% | 64,087 | 84,431 | 108,189 |
| 1998 | 132,288 | 65.0% | 70,535 | 90,862 | 114,712 |
| 1997 | 14,237 | 65.7% | 69,657 | 88,539 | 110,506 |
How Long Does a Citroen Xsara Last?
Based on 355,498 Citroen Xsara vehicles on UK roads.
Citroen Xsara Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Citroen Xsara 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 Xsara
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
74.2% MOT pass rate from 29,538 tests
65.0% MOT pass rate from 132,288 tests
The best year to buy a used Citroen Xsara is 2010, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 74.2% across 29,538 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Citroen Xsara Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citroen Xsara THIS CAR | 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 |
| Citroen C4 | 72% | 3,110,282 | 63,336 mi | 21 yrs |
| Skoda Fabia | 76% | 4,863,673 | 58,216 mi | 26 yrs |
Compared to the Citroen Berlingo (70.1% pass rate) and the Citroen C3 (72.7% pass rate), the Citroen Xsara trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Citroen Xsara 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 XsaraShould you buy a used Citroen Xsara?
The Citroen Xsara has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.1% across 5,047,330 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Citroen Xsara are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (242,573 recorded failures), registration plate lamp not working (140,363), and stop lamp not working (132,977). 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 Xsara owner drives around 7,021 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 Xsara models stay on UK roads for around 28 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.