2004 Citroen Xsara MOT pass rate: 59.2% (8,486 tests)
Is the 2004 Xsara getting worse?
Pass rate of 2004-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 59.3% -4.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 59.1% -5.0 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 59.1% -6.2 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 2004 Xsara
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 3,378 | 25.8% |
| 2 | Suspension | 2,579 | 19.7% |
| 3 | Brakes | 1,834 | 14.0% |
| 4 | Body, chassis, structure | 1,410 | 10.8% |
| 5 | Tyres | 938 | 7.2% |
| 6 | Visibility | 833 | 6.4% |
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 | 4,059 | 58.6% | -7.0 pts | 107,399 |
| 2003 | 5,615 | 57.3% | -7.7 pts | 110,826 |
| 2004 (this page) | 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.
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FAQs
Is a 2004 Citroen Xsara reliable?
2004-registered examples passed 59.2% of their MOT tests (8,486 tests, 2023–2025), -5.1 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 22 years old with a median 108,208 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2004 Xsara?
The median tested example shows 108,208 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.