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Citroen Xsara exhaust, emissions and leaks problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 19,686 MOT tests · Updated

At 17 years, 6.0 in 100 MOT tests of the Citroen Xsara failed on exhaust, emissions and leaks, against 6.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 19,686 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 1,183 MOT tests with a fail
  • When it starts: clear of 1.2 times from 24 years and at every older age seen
  • Most common fail: Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction, 1.6 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

6.0 fails per 100 MOT tests at 17 years, against 6.5 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 17 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

An exhaust, emissions and leaks fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

Start the car from cold and look for smoke at the exhaust, listen for blowing joints, and look under the engine and gearbox for fresh oil or fluid drips.

Citroen Xsara exhaust, emissions and leaks fails by age

Citroen Xsara exhaust, emissions and leaks fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Citroen Xsara. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.051012 years: 3.5 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 1,527 MOT tests1213 years: 4.0 per 100 (all cars 4.3), 4,416 MOT tests14 years: 5.1 per 100 (all cars 5.1), 8,080 MOT tests1415 years: 5.2 per 100 (all cars 5.7), 14,555 MOT tests16 years: 5.6 per 100 (all cars 6.2), 19,481 MOT tests1617 years: 6.0 per 100 (all cars 6.5), 19,686 MOT tests18 years: 6.0 per 100 (all cars 6.8), 18,487 MOT tests1819 years: 6.6 per 100 (all cars 7.0), 14,475 MOT tests20 years: 6.8 per 100 (all cars 7.0), 10,247 MOT tests2021 years: 6.9 per 100 (all cars 7.1), 7,254 MOT tests22 years: 8.1 per 100 (all cars 7.0), 4,256 MOT tests2223 years: 9.3 per 100 (all cars 6.9), 2,236 MOT tests24 years: 10.2 per 100 (all cars 7.0), 1,034 MOT tests24
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Citroen Xsara All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
121,5273.53.7
134,4164.04.3
148,0805.15.1
1514,5555.25.7
1619,4815.66.2
1719,6866.06.5
1818,4876.06.8
19*14,4756.67.0
20*10,2476.87.0
21*7,2546.97.1
22*4,2568.17.0
23*2,2369.36.9
24*1,03410.27.0

All first-use years of the Citroen Xsara pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the exhaust, emissions and leaks at 17 years

Fails

Advisories (not fails)

Diagnose engine warning light cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 1.6 petrol: 4.9 per 100 at 17 years, fails less often than petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (0.6–0.7×) (all test years; 9,113 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

Start the car from cold and look for smoke at the exhaust, listen for blowing joints, and look under the engine and gearbox for fresh oil or fluid drips.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive.

Check one Citroen Xsara, not the average

The figures here describe Citroen Xsara cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Citroen Xsara problems

Exhaust, emissions and leaks on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Citroen Xsara have more exhaust, emissions and leaks problems than other cars?

6.0 in 100 MOT tests at 17 years, against 6.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 19,686 MOT tests).

How common are Citroen Xsara exhaust, emissions and leaks problems?

6.0 in 100 MOT tests at 17 years failed on exhaust, emissions and leaks, against 6.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 19,686 MOT tests).

What is the most common Citroen Xsara exhaust, emissions and leaks fail?

1.6 in 100 MOT tests at 17 years: Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction (319 MOT tests with it).

At what age do Citroen Xsara exhaust, emissions and leaks fails start?

24 years: from then on the rate stays clear of 1.2 times all class 4 vehicles the same age at every age seen, 1,034 MOT tests.

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 125,734 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare