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What to check: Citroen Xsara / Xsara Picasso

Ranked across all years of the Citroen Xsara / Xsara Picasso, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Underneath, with a torchRuns high on this modelGet down and look at the sills, the subframes and the rear suspension mounting points. Flaking scale and bubbling matter; light surface rust does not. On older cars this is the one check that finds the fault that scraps them.Recorded on 8.7% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 0.1%

LeaksRuns high on this modelLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 8.6% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 4.8%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 8.5% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 3.5%

Steering playRuns high on this modelWith the engine running and the car parked, waggle the wheel lightly about the straight-ahead. The wheels should respond almost at once. A dead zone before anything happens means wear in the rack or the track rod ends.Recorded on 7.7% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 1.7%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 6.6% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 1.4%

ExhaustRuns high on this modelListen along the exhaust at cold idle for blowing or chuffing, and give the tailpipe a push to check nothing hangs loose. Small blows only get louder.Recorded on 6.3% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 2.2%

Headlamp lensesRuns high on this modelCheck for condensation inside the headlamps and for cloudy or yellowed lenses. Both attract MOT trouble, and moisture inside a sealed LED unit generally means a whole new lamp.Recorded on 6.2% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 1.1%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 28.1% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 20.9%

Pads and discsLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 5.5% of tests at age 10-15 · class average 11.4%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Push the clutch pedal and pull away under load, e.g. up a slope.Slipping or a spongy pedal points to clutch or dual-mass flywheel wear.

On a diesel, ask for proof of cambelt (and pulley) replacement at or before 60-70k miles.No paperwork means you don't know if it's due, and a snapped belt can wreck the engine.

On a 1.6 HDi, listen for turbo whine and watch for blue-grey smoke under load.Both suggest the oil feed to the turbo may already be partially blocked with carbon.

Check the dash for a permanent airbag or seatbelt warning light with the engine running.Points to a seatbelt pretensioner connector fault, and will also show up as an MOT issue.

Test all electrics: central locking, windows, dash warning lights, in both dry and just-washed conditions if possible.Intermittent faults after washing suggest water has got into the fuse box connectors.

Run the air con and heater on hot and cold for a few minutes each.Weak or absent airflow either way suggests a refrigerant leak or failing compressor.

Read the full MOT history, not just pass/fail.Repeated advisories on the same seatbelt, brake or suspension item mean it's been left unaddressed.

Full Citroen Xsara / Xsara Picasso reliability report