Used car guide

1997 Citroen ZX diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Citroen ZX first registered in 1997 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 169 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 169 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

169MOTs of 1997 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
60%pass first time (all 1997 cars: 65%)
4,000typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1997 Citroen ZX diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1997 Citroen ZX diesel than on all cars registered in 1997.

  • Engine oil leaks2.1× usual
    Citroen ZX
    34.9% All 1997 cars
    16.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.4% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

Common 1997 Citroen ZX diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1997 Citroen ZX diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    45% 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.

  • Brakes
    41% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    36% 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.

  • Tyres
    29% 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
    23% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Rust and bodywork
    18% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1997 Citroen ZX diesel

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

  1. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 1997 Citroen ZX diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Citroen ZX?

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 ZX compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
1998–Too few tests
1996197Suspension 47%
1995187Suspension 44%
1994102Suspension 43%
1993103Suspension 44%
1992–Too few tests
1991–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 ZX cars first registered in 1997. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score