Citroen Xsara Picasso MOT Failures
An analysis of 514 real DVSA MOT tests on the Citroen Xsara Picasso — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads.
Where the Citroen Xsara Picasso fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Citroen Xsara Picasso is power steering fault — this model is 46 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 514 MOT tests, 10.41% of all Citroen Xsara Picasso tests recorded this as a failure.
Steering faults include worn track rod ends, power steering leaks, and rack wear. These are safety-critical — any play in the steering should be investigated immediately.
Other notable weak points include light unit fault (28x the fleet average), seat mounting fault (25x the fleet average), and exhaust system damage (6.8x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Citroen Xsara Picasso's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 4 categories: Steering, Lights & Electrics, Seatbelts & Airbags, Bodywork. If you're inspecting a Citroen Xsara Picasso before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
What to check before buying a Citroen Xsara Picasso
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Citroen Xsara Picasso:
Steering — check for power steering fault. Lights & Electrics — check for light unit fault. Seatbelts & Airbags — check for seat mounting fault. Bodywork — check for exhaust system damage.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Citroen Xsara Picasso?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Citroen Xsara Picasso MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Citroen Xsara Picasso?
Based on 514 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is power steering fault — at 46x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include light unit fault and seat mounting fault.
Is the Citroen Xsara Picasso reliable based on MOT data?
The Citroen Xsara Picasso has 4 categories where it fails more often than average. The main concern is power steering fault. Always check a specific car's full history before buying.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
The most common high-mileage failures include power steering fault, light unit fault, seat mounting fault.
How do I check a Citroen Xsara Picasso's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.