Does the Citroen Xsara fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Citroen Xsara records 44.63 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 35.66 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+8.97, 95% interval +8.74 to +9.20). It ranks 86 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Citroen Xsara by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Citroen Xsara is “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”, recorded 24,681 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 24,681 | 7.54 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 18,438 | 5.63 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 17,328 | 5.30 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 13,917 | 4.25 |
| Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 12,863 | 3.93 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 327,241 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Citroen Xsara gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
36.4% of Citroen Xsara MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 4,605 miles later (12,484 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 12,484 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Citroen Xsara 1998 · Citroen Xsara 1999 · Citroen Xsara 2000 · Citroen Xsara 2001 · Citroen Xsara 2002 · Citroen Xsara 2003 · Citroen Xsara 2004 · Citroen Xsara 2005 · Citroen Xsara 2006 · Citroen Xsara 2007 · Citroen Xsara 2008 · Citroen Xsara 2009 · Citroen Xsara 2010 · Citroen Xsara in Finland · Citroen Xsara in the Netherlands · Citroen Xsara by postcode area · Citroen Xsara body, chassis and structure failures · Citroen Xsara brakes failures · Citroen Xsara vehicle identification failures · Citroen Xsara noise, emissions and leaks failures · Citroen Xsara road wheels failures · Citroen Xsara seat belts and airbags failures · Citroen Xsara steering failures · Citroen Xsara suspension failures · Citroen Xsara tyres failures · Citroen Xsara visibility failures