Citroen Dispatch: what fails at MOT
58,000 MOT tests on the Citroen Dispatch in 2024, counted. 39.3% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
39.3% of Citroen Dispatch tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 24.5%, so the Dispatch does worse than most cars its age.
It fails most often on lights and electrics (16% of tests), body and structure (8.7% of tests) and suspension (7.2% of tests). It fails on lights and electrics, body and structure and suspension more often than most cars its age.
By year of registration
Older cars fail more, whatever the model. So each year is shown beside the figure for all cars first used that year.
| First used | Tests | Failed first time | All cars that year | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,107 | 27.7% | 10.9% | 44,000 31,000 to 60,200 |
| 2020 | 4,433 | 29.4% | 11.5% | 56,200 39,500 to 75,200 |
| 2019 | 5,797 | 28.4% | 13.4% | 66,600 47,800 to 91,200 |
| 2018 | 5,378 | 26.1% | 15.6% | 72,300 52,300 to 97,800 |
| 2017 | 5,420 | 28.9% | 18.2% | 85,000 62,800 to 110,900 |
| 2016 | 4,374 | 42.4% | 21.3% | 91,300 67,900 to 120,700 |
| 2015 | 5,024 | 49.0% | 24.4% | 100,400 73,700 to 132,600 |
| 2014 | 3,850 | 46.8% | 27.7% | 106,200 79,500 to 138,100 |
| 2013 | 3,030 | 49.8% | 30.6% | 111,800 82,600 to 143,700 |
| 2012 | 2,154 | 49.0% | 33.4% | 122,300 91,800 to 160,400 |
| 2011 | 2,354 | 48.8% | 36.1% | 132,300 99,600 to 167,000 |
| 2010 | 2,510 | 48.4% | 38.6% | 137,600 104,700 to 173,300 |
| 2009 | 1,943 | 48.5% | 39.8% | 135,500 103,200 to 173,400 |
| 2008 | 2,417 | 47.8% | 41.5% | 142,900 111,800 to 180,600 |
| 2007 | 2,123 | 49.5% | 41.5% | 144,900 114,100 to 180,800 |
| 2006 | 1,280 | 52.0% | 42.4% | 131,400 100,700 to 165,700 |
| 2005 | 964 | 52.8% | 42.2% | 122,200 98,000 to 156,700 |
| 2004 | 715 | 46.6% | 42.3% | 130,700 98,700 to 163,200 |
Green is at least three points better than other cars that year, red at least three points worse. Typical mileage is the middle reading at the test, with the range the middle half of cars fell in.
Where it fails
The share of Citroen Dispatch tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | Dispatch | Cars its age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 16.0% | 6.4% | More than most |
| Body and structure | 8.7% | 1.9% | More than most |
| Suspension | 7.2% | 5.1% | More than most |
| Brakes | 6.8% | 3.9% | More than most |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen | 6.3% | 2.8% | More than most |
| Tyres | 4.6% | 4.1% | |
| Exhaust and emissions | 2.9% | 1.8% | More than most |
| Steering | 1.4% | 1.1% |
The parts that fail most
- Driveshaft joint6.1%
- Side light5.6%
- Brake light3.9%
- Number plate light3.6%
- Wipers3.4%
- Headlamp aim3.4%
- Headlamp3.3%
- Ball joint3.0%
- Tyre2.8%
- Washers2.7%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Driveshaft joint: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt5.9%
- Side light: not working5.2%
- Brake light: not working3.6%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.3%
- Number plate light: inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps3.1%
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.8%
- Ball joint: excessively worn2.8%
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.3%
- Tyre tread: below requirements of 1.6mm2.2%
- Exhaust system: system insecure1.7%
What testers warn about
Advisories are things that passed this time but are wearing. They are the best guide to next year's bills.
- Tyre tread: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge12.4%
- Engine oil: leak, but not excessive9.1%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened8.5%
- Brake pads: wearing thin7.5%
- Tyre: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing5.0%
- Brake discs: worn, but not excessively2.4%
- Exhaust system: mounting defective2.4%
- Ball joint: has slight play2.3%
What these figures can't tell you
An MOT is a safety and emissions test. These figures show how often the model fails that test. They say nothing about engines, gearboxes or electronics that break between tests, and how a car has been looked after matters more than its badge. The car you are looking at has its own MOT record, and that is the one to read.
Ask before you travel
- “Do all the lights work, including the number plate lights and brake lights?”
- “Is there any corrosion underneath or around the sills and arches?”
- “Have any suspension parts been replaced, such as springs, ball joints or bushes, and can I see the invoice?”
- “When were the brake pads and discs last changed?”
Check a Citroen Dispatch's own MOT record
Type the registration from the advert. You'll see every test that car has had, what it failed on and what it was warned about, free.
Where this comes from
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The counting is Hindsight's own.
First-attempt MOT tests of cars first used 2004 to 2021. A test counts as failed if it failed or only passed after a repair during the test. Retests are left out. Built on 13 November 2026.