Diesel Citroen Xsara: MOT pass rate

57.4% of diesel Citroen Xsaras pass the MOT first time, measured across 10,643 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 117,248.

Diesel against the other Citroen Xsara versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Citroen Xsara specifically, petrol is the strongest at 59.2%, and this diesel version sits 1 points below the 58.4% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Citroen Xsara fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Citroen Xsara had covered 117,248 miles at test, against 95,368 for the petrol. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Citroen Xsara page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Citroen Xsara

1. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 9.9% of tests (36.91x the national rate for this defect)
2. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 6.2% of tests (15.02x the national rate for this defect)
3. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 6.1% of tests (6.46x the national rate for this defect)
4. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 3.3% of tests (5.56x the national rate for this defect)
5. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.5% of tests (4.64x the national rate for this defect)
6. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 6.7% of tests (4.38x the national rate for this defect)
7. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 4.4% of tests (4.09x the national rate for this defect)
8. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 5.5% of tests (4.05x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 5.9% of tests (3.23x the national rate for this defect)
10. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 6.6% of tests (2.98x the national rate for this defect)

From 10,744 DVSA-tracked diesel Citroen Xsara tests, 2024, split out from the Citroen Xsara's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4.13% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Citroen Xsara

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 6.3% of tests (5.09x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 5.8% of tests (4.21x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 4.4% of tests (3.96x the national rate for this defect)
4. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 5.3% of tests (3.46x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 18.4% of tests (2.98x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 15.2% of tests (2.73x the national rate for this defect)
7. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 7.1% of tests (2.48x the national rate for this defect)
8. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 5.1% of tests (1.92x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 7.7% of tests (1.5x the national rate for this defect)
10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 33.5% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this defect)

From 10,744 DVSA-tracked diesel Citroen Xsara tests, 2024.

Other Citroen Xsara fuel types

• Petrol Citroen Xsara - 59.2%

All Citroen Xsara MOT data · Every model