MOT failure rate and common problems for the Citroen Xzara, and how to check your own car by registration.
Updated 05 September 2026.
Citroen Xzara MOT failure rate
What a Citroen Xzara fails its MOT on, and the part that fixes each.
What it fails on, and why
Lighting is the single most common MOT failure and the cheapest to put right. A blown headlight, brake-light or number-plate bulb, a cracked lens, or a headlamp beam that points too high or low will all fail. Most are a two-minute bulb swap.
Exhaust failures cover leaks, insecure mountings and emissions over the limit. A blowing exhaust, a failed lambda reading or a diesel that smokes beyond the limit will fail.
Suspension failures usually mean a worn or snapped coil spring, a leaking shock absorber, or play in a lower arm ball joint or bush. The tester checks for corrosion, fractures and excessive movement. A broken front spring is one of the most common failures on higher-mileage cars and is a straightforward replacement.
Seat-belt failures are frays, cuts, corroded anchorages, or a belt that will not lock under a sharp pull or retract properly.
Tyres fail for tread below the 1.6mm legal limit across the central three-quarters, uneven or exposed-cord wear, or sidewall damage. The tester inspects all four; a single illegal tyre is a fail.
This covers a range of smaller items, from a non-working horn to a warning light left on.
The parts that fix each
If your car has just failed, you have 10 working days to fix the items and get a free partial retest. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.
Other models
Questions and answers
What is the MOT failure rate of the Citroen Xzara?
It fails 27.9% of its MOT tests across the DVSA record, from 61 tests.
What do these cars fail their MOT on most?
The most common failure area is lamps & electrical, at 41.2% of this model's failures.