2002 Citroen Xsara MOT pass rate: 58.6% (4,059 tests)
Is the 2002 Xsara getting worse?
Pass rate of 2002-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 57.8% -7.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 60.0% -5.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 58.3% -8.4 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2002 Xsara
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,367 | 22.8% |
| 2 | Suspension | 1,171 | 19.6% |
| 3 | Body, chassis, structure | 891 | 14.9% |
| 4 | Brakes | 716 | 12.0% |
| 5 | Tyres | 433 | 7.2% |
| 6 | Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 377 | 6.3% |
All Xsara years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2,512 | 57.2% | -9.3 pts | 108,468 |
| 2002 (this page) | 4,059 | 58.6% | -7.0 pts | 107,399 |
| 2003 | 5,615 | 57.3% | -7.7 pts | 110,826 |
| 2004 | 8,486 | 59.2% | -5.1 pts | 108,208 |
| 2005 | 9,544 | 56.8% | -7.7 pts | 104,740 |
| 2006 | 15,299 | 59.4% | -5.0 pts | 97,724 |
| 2007 | 14,327 | 58.0% | -7.1 pts | 99,034 |
| 2008 | 8,020 | 58.1% | -7.1 pts | 97,787 |
| 2009 | 6,802 | 62.5% | -3.9 pts | 90,306 |
| 2010 | 3,463 | 62.0% | -5.4 pts | 88,609 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Citroen Xsara years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
- Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2002 Citroen Xsara reliable?
2002-registered examples passed 58.6% of their MOT tests (4,059 tests, 2023–2025), -7.0 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 24 years old with a median 107,399 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2002 Xsara?
The median tested example shows 107,399 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.