At a Glance
The Citroen Xsara has 36 identified problems that occur more often than the UK average, with Catalytic converter efficiency low being the most reported. Electrical is the most common MOT failure category. The most serious issue flagged is Compression ignition emissions above threshold, rated as dangerous. Based on 1.0M MOT tests from DVSA data.
Problems are patterns in the DVSA data that occur significantly more often on this model than the UK average — confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read how we calculate MOT pass rates and problems →
Below: the full MOT-data picture for the Citroen Xsara — MOT pass rate vs the UK average, common problems vs UK fleet patterns, the most likely MOT failures by frequency, fault occurrence by mileage band, and pass/fail trends. All numbers drawn from DVSA records.
Citroen Xsara MOT Pass Rate
Across 1.0M MOT tests from DVSA data, the Citroen Xsara (1997–2006) has a fail rate of 47.9%.
UK average fail rate (2006): 35.3%
Common Citroen Xsara Problems
Owner-submitted reports plus patterns we've identified across 559 million UK MOT tests. Each MOT-derived item below — whether tagged as a Problem, Wear & Tear or Consumable — shows up noticeably more often on this generation than across the UK fleet, which is why it's here. Owner reports are pinned to the top by default; use the sort and filter pills below to view a specific tier or change the order.
Catalytic converter efficiency low
50,838
occurrences
Driveshaft fault
33,427
occurrences
Brake hydraulic component worn
23,076
occurrences
Compression ignition emissions above threshold
13,197
occurrences
Steering rack fault
10,969
occurrences
Tell Us About Your Problem
Help other Citroen Xsara owners — report a problem and we'll add it to the database
Tell Us About Your Problem
Help other Citroen Xsara owners — report a problem and we'll add it to the database
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Problems by mileage
Common problems, MOT failures and advisories on the Citroen Xsara, grouped by the mileage they typically appear at.
855 distinct problems · 2,631,591 total occurrences in current filter
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Advisory items are MOT tester observations. Frequency can be influenced by driving style and usage patterns.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Citroen Xsara problems?
Based on DVSA MOT data for the Citroen Xsara Xsara (1997–2006), we have identified 36 common problems. The most frequently reported is "Catalytic converter efficiency low". Electrical is the most common MOT failure category.
How reliable is the Citroen Xsara?
This generation has 1.0M MOT tests on record with a 47.9% fail rate. A fault is flagged as a "Common Problem" only when it occurs significantly more often on this model than the UK average, confirmed at 99% statistical confidence.
What commonly fails the MOT on a Citroen Xsara?
There are 206 distinct MOT failure types recorded for the Xsara (1997–2006), grouped by the mileage these failures typically occur. See the Common MOT Failures section on this page.
Can I report a problem with my Citroen Xsara?
Yes — use the "Tell Us About Your Problem" form on this page. Your report helps other Citroen Xsara owners spot problems early. All submissions are reviewed before being added to the public database.
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