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Common Citroen Saxo Problems, Faults, and Repair Costs

Every known Citroen Saxo MOT issue, ranked by how common it is and what it costs to fix. Based on 7,303 real MOT tests across 8 model years.

Segment: city car | Fuel: Petrol

70%

Citroen Saxo pass rate

79%

Citroen average

82%

National average

The Citroen Saxo has an average MOT pass rate of 70%, which is 9 points below the Citroen average and 12 points below the national average. The CITROEN SAXO has maintained consistent MOT pass rates across model years, varying by only 2 percentage points.

Check Your Citroen Saxo's MOT History

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Most Common Citroen Saxo MOT Issues

Ranked by how likely they are to affect your Citroen Saxo, with typical repair costs

Brakes

High likelihood

£80 - £450

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Brake discs worn, brake pads thin, handbrake adjustment needed

Failure points:

Brake disc excessively worn, brake pipe corroded, brake efficiency below minimum

Suspension

High likelihood

£150 - £600

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Suspension arm bush worn, shock absorber misting, spring corroded

Failure points:

Coil spring broken, ball joint excessive play, shock absorber leaking

Lights

High likelihood

£15 - £200

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Headlamp aim slightly out, lens deteriorated

Failure points:

Headlamp not working, brake light not functioning, indicator failure

Tyres

High likelihood

£50 - £300

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Tyre approaching legal limit, slight damage to sidewall

Failure points:

Tyre below minimum tread depth, tyre has a cut exposing ply

Exhaust & Emissions

High likelihood

£80 - £800

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Exhaust mounting corroded, slight exhaust leak

Failure points:

Exhaust emissions exceed limits, catalytic converter efficiency low, DPF warning

Steering

High likelihood

£100 - £500

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Track rod end has slight play, steering rack boot deteriorated

Failure points:

Steering rack leaking, track rod ball joint worn beyond limits

Body & Structure

High likelihood

£200 - £1200

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Surface corrosion on subframe, slight body panel damage

Failure points:

Structural corrosion, body mounting corroded through, chassis weakness

Windscreen & Wipers

Lower likelihood

£10 - £350

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Minor windscreen chip, wiper blade deteriorated

Failure points:

Windscreen crack in swept area, wiper does not clear windscreen

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Citroen Saxo Reliability by Year

MOT pass rate for each model year, based on real test data

1997
67%
1998
70%
1999
69%
2000
66%
Worst year
2001
70%
2002
69%
2003
72%
Best year
2004
69%
YearFuelEnginePass RateFail Rate
2004Petrol1.1L69%29%
2003Petrol1.1L72%27%
2002Petrol1.1L69%30%
2001Petrol1.1L70%29%
2000Petrol1.1L66%32%
1999Petrol1.4L69%30%
1998Petrol1.1L70%29%
1997Petrol1.1L67%32%

Most Reliable Year

2003

72% pass rate from 1,578 tests

View 2003 Citroen Saxo details

Least Reliable Year

2000

66% pass rate from 884 tests

View 2000 Citroen Saxo details

Citroen Saxo Running Costs

Want to know the full annual running costs for the Citroen Saxo? Including fuel, tax, insurance, and predicted repairs based on MOT history.

View Citroen Saxo Running Costs

Citroen Saxo FAQ

What are the most common Citroen Saxo problems?

The most common Citroen Saxo MOT problems are brakes, suspension, lights, tyres, exhaust & emissions, steering, body & structure issues. These are the areas most likely to cause advisories or failures during an MOT test, based on 7,303 real tests.

Is the Citroen Saxo reliable?

The Citroen Saxo has an average MOT pass rate of 70%, which is 12 points below the national average of 82%. This is about average reliability.

Which year Citroen Saxo is most reliable?

The 2003 Citroen Saxo is the most reliable year with a 72% MOT pass rate. Avoid the 2000 model year if reliability is your priority, as it has the lowest pass rate at 66%.

How much does it cost to fix common Citroen Saxo faults?

Repair costs vary by issue. Brake work on a Citroen Saxo typically costs £80-£450, suspension repairs cost £150-£600, and exhaust/emissions fixes cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.

Check a Specific Citroen Saxo

Enter any reg plate to see the exact MOT history, defects found, health score, and running cost estimate for that specific car.

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