Used car guide

2010 Citroen Xsara: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2010 Citroen Xsaras, from 992 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

992MOT tests in 2025

52%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%)

6,000typical miles a year

2×the usual rate for exhaust system

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2010 Citroen Xsaras than on all cars registered in 2010.

Exhaust system2× usual

Citroen Xsara
15% All 2010 cars
7.6%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 2% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.
Rust in key structural areas17.7× usual

Citroen Xsara
7.1% All 2010 cars
0.4%

Failed outright at MOT: 6.1%, against 0.3% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.
Drive shaft (CV) joints2.3× usual

Citroen Xsara
11.6% All 2010 cars
5%

Failed outright at MOT: 6.2%, against 2.3% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.
Body structure rust or damage5× usual

Citroen Xsara
6% All 2010 cars
1.2%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 0.3% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

At the viewing: Look underneath and along the sills for flaky rust or fresh underseal hiding it.
Anti-roll bar link joints2.3× usual

Citroen Xsara
9% All 2010 cars
4%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 1.5% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Brake discs: 7% here, against 14.6% of all 2010 cars. Coil springs: 4.6% here, against 11.4% of all 2010 cars.

By area

The share of 2010 Citroen Xsara MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Suspension

41% 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.
Lights and electrics

39% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

37% 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.
Brakes

19% 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.
Exhaust and emissions

16% 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 engine or DPF warning lights.
Rust and bodywork

15% 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.

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

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2009	1,893	Suspension 41%
2008	2,058	Lights and electrics 45%
2007	3,546	Suspension 44%
2006	3,724	Suspension 43%
2005	2,218	Suspension 48%
2004	1,912	Suspension 52%
2003	1,299	Suspension 48%
2002	949	Suspension 43%
2001	589	Lights and electrics 44%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2010 Citroen Xsaras registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score