2025 MOT results
Citroën Saxo common problems
The most common reason a Citroën Saxo fails its MOT is emissions above the limit, on 12.5% of its 1,273 failed tests in 2025. Against other cars of the same age, 6 faults stand out, the widest gaps being: a weak or uneven footbrake at 10.6% of failures against 1.9% expected; a steering fault at 8.4% of failures against 2.2% expected; emissions above the limit at 7.8% of failures against 3.3% expected.
- Tests in 2025 2,906 Cars aged three and over
- Failed first time 43.8% 1,273 tests
- Found a dangerous defect 8.7% Unsafe to drive away
- Ended with an advisory 60.7% A problem to watch, not a failure
What fails a Citroën Saxo MOT
Each bar is the share of failed Citroën Saxo tests with that defect. Where we can compare it with cars of the same registration years, the marker shows what an average car of those ages records (12 of the 12 items below).
Most common reasons for failure
A test can fail for more than one defect, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits Noise, emissions and leaks | 12.5% |
| Service brake imbalance: across an axle Brakes | 12.0% |
| Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12.0% |
| Component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Suspension | 11.8% |
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 11.5% |
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 11.4% |
| Service brake performance: efficiency below requirements Brakes | 10.6% |
| Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Steering | 8.4% |
| Exhaust system: major leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 8.2% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 7.9% |
| Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.8% |
| Washers: not working Visibility | 6.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
-
Emissions above the limit
12.5% of failures 5.7% expected 2.2 times as often
The exhaust gases are outside the limits for the car, which can be the catalytic converter, a sensor, or simply a poor state of tune.
A long run before the test helps a catalyst get hot; a persistent failure usually needs a diagnosis.
-
Weak or uneven footbrake
12.0% of failures 3.8% expected 3.2 times as often
The footbrake is either weak overall or pulls unevenly across an axle, which the rolling road measures.
A pull to one side under firm braking, or a long pedal, is the sign to get it looked at before a test.
-
Brake light out
12.0% of failures 8.9% expected somewhat more often
A brake light not working, from a bulb, a poor earth, or the switch on the pedal.
Reverse up to a wall or window at dusk and press the pedal to see all three lamps light.
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Structural corrosion
11.8% of failures 8.3% expected somewhat more often
Corrosion in a structural area near a suspension, steering or seat belt mounting, which is a serious failure.
Look at the inner sills, rear spring seats and subframe mounts on cars over about 12 years old.
-
Sidelight out
11.5% of failures 11.1% expected about as expected
A sidelight, also called a position lamp, not working. It marks the width of the car at night.
Walk round the car with the lights on and the hazards going; these are the cheapest failures to avoid.
-
Split joint boot
11.4% of failures 6.6% expected 1.7 times as often
A split rubber boot on a joint or driveshaft. The joint may still be sound, but dirt and water get in once the boot is open.
Turn the wheels to full lock and look behind them for greasy splits in the rubber concertina.
Which parts of the car fail
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the area that most often fails a Citroën Saxo, on 46.0% of failed tests. The widest gap against cars of the same registration years is noise, emissions and leaks, on 28.6% against 19.0% expected.
Failure categories
DVSA's own sections of the test. The marker is what cars of the same registration years record.
| Defect category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 46.0% |
| Brakes | 34.7% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 29.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 28.6% |
| Suspension | 27.3% |
| Visibility | 19.3% |
| Steering | 11.3% |
| Tyres | 10.8% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What testers warn about
60.7% of Citroën Saxo tests ended with at least one advisory: a fault the tester found that did not fail the test. On Citroën Saxos, these are the items to ask about on a car you are viewing, because they are what the last tester expected to go next.
Most common advisories
Share of all tests, passes included.
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 16.3% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 14.5% |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 10.2% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 9.8% |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes | 9.6% |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle | 8.1% |
| Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 8.1% |
| Component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Suspension | 5.1% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension | 4.1% |
| Individual direction indicators: slightly discoloured Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 3.4% |
| Integral vehicle structure condition: corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Body, chassis, structure | 3.3% |
| Coil spring: corroded Suspension | 3.2% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Citroën Saxo problems: common questions
What is the most common problem with a Citroën Saxo?
Of the faults that fail an MOT, “Catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits” is the most common: it appears on 12.5% of failed Citroën Saxo tests. Across categories, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the area that most often fails one, on 46.0% of failed tests.
How often does a Citroën Saxo fail its MOT?
43.8% of Citroën Saxo tests in 2025 were not passed first time, from 2,906 tests of cars aged three and over. Allowing for the age and mileage of the cars tested, that gives it a UK Motoring Reliability Score of 42 out of 100, where 50 is as expected.
Does anything fail more often on a Citroën Saxo than on other cars?
Yes. “Service brake performance: efficiency below requirements” appears on 10.6% of its failures against 1.9% for cars of the same age, and “Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” appears on 8.4% of its failures against 2.2% for cars of the same age. Where an item is missing from the national figures for a year, we use the smallest share those figures show, so the comparison never overstates the difference.
Are these the same as breakdowns or known faults?
No. These are the items a tester recorded at the MOT, which covers condition and safety: lamps, brakes, tyres, suspension, corrosion and emissions. A gearbox that is unpleasant, an infotainment screen that has died, or a car that will not start on a cold morning are not part of the test, so they are not in these figures.
Where do the figures come from?
Every normal MOT test of a Citroën Saxo aged three and over in Great Britain in 2025, from DVSA's anonymised MOT results. Retests are excluded, and the same fault on more than one wheel counts once.
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT defects and advisories | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 2,906 MOT tests | 19 September 2026 |
- Shares for defects are of failed tests; shares for advisories are of all tests. A test can carry several defects, so shares add to more than 100%.
- The expected share is what an average car of the same registration years records, weighted by where this model’s failures fall. Where an item is outside the national figures for a year, the smallest share those figures show is used in its place, which is an upper bound, so the comparison never overstates a model’s problems. No expectation is published where less than 80% of the model’s failures can be compared.
- Great Britain only: DVSA does not run MOT testing in Northern Ireland. Cars under three years old are not tested.
- The descriptions of what each part does are general and the same on every model. Every figure comes from the MOT data.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.