Citroen Xsara (2006)
2006 Citroen Xsara
CarHunch analysed 27,923 real MOT records for the 2006 Citroen Xsara. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2006 Citroën Xsara is a reliability concern: its 73.1% first-time pass rate falls 6.9 percentage points below the UK average, and a worrying 33.7% of vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point. Petrol and diesel variants perform nearly identically (73.6% vs 72.6%), so fuel choice won't improve your odds here.
These cars are running at a reasonable 62,500 miles median for their age, but they're accumulating serious wear—the average vehicle racks up 4.46 failures and 16.9 advisories per test, well above typical. If you're considering one, budget for a thorough pre-purchase inspection focusing on suspension, brakes, and steering components, and expect regular repair costs throughout ownership.
What to check before buying a 2006 Citroen Xsara
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 33.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Citroen Xsara
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (51%) | 14,357 | 73.6% | 4.53 |
| Diesel (49%) | 13,553 | 72.6% | 4.39 |
| LPG (0%) | 11 | 75.8% | 3.36 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 64.3% | 5 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2006 Citroen Xsara vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2006 Citroen Xsara vehicles fall between 50,386 and 75,755 miles.
2006 Citroen Xsara — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 3,583 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (14% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2006 Citroen Xsara
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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75%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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71.9%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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57.6%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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45.5%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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45.5%
Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
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45.2%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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30.5%
Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
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25.8%
Offside Stop lamp not working
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2006. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Citroen Xsara?
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