Used car guide

1998 Citroen Xsara petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Citroen Xsara first registered in 1998 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 131 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 131 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

131MOTs of 1998 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
56%pass first time (all 1998 cars: 65%)
2,800typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for tyre condition

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1998 Citroen Xsara petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1998 Citroen Xsara petrol than on all cars registered in 1998.

  • Tyre condition2.1× usual
    Citroen Xsara
    24.4% All 1998 cars
    11.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.3%, against 2.6% of all 1998 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges. Uneven wear can point to tracking or suspension problems.

Common 1998 Citroen Xsara petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1998 Citroen Xsara petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    40% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    37% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    31% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    28% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    21% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1998 Citroen Xsara petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the tyre condition? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 1998 Citroen Xsara petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Citroen Xsara?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Citroen Xsara compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20103,482Tyres 38%
20096,833Suspension 39%
20088,080Suspension 43%
200714,432Suspension 43%
200615,404Suspension 40%
20059,627Suspension 47%
20048,562Suspension 48%
20035,663Suspension 47%
20024,105Suspension 44%
20012,532Suspension 44%
2000721Suspension 43%
1999225Suspension 37%
1997–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Citroen Xsara cars first registered in 1998. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score