Citroen Dispatch: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Citroen Dispatch fails its first MOT more often than the average UK vehicle, by 10.5 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 40,988 individual Citroen Dispatch tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 66.2% first-time pass rate means roughly 34 in every 100 Citroen Dispatch presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Citroen Dispatch tested had covered 108,236 miles and was built around 2014.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Citroen Dispatch sits 10.5 points below the national average, ranked 1,847 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Citroen Dispatch rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Citroen Dispatch at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Citroen Dispatch

1. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 10.8% of tests (7.04x the national rate for this defect)
2. A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, 3.7% of tests (4.15x the national rate for this defect)
3. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 3.5% of tests (3.44x the national rate for this defect)
4. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 7.3% of tests (3.27x the national rate for this defect)
5. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 4% of tests (2.94x the national rate for this defect)
6. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 2.6% of tests (2.79x the national rate for this defect)
7. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 3.2% of tests (2.59x the national rate for this defect)
8. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 3.7% of tests (1.96x the national rate for this defect)
9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 3.2% of tests (1.91x the national rate for this defect)
10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.5% of tests (1.48x the national rate for this defect)

From 43,977 DVSA-tracked Citroen Dispatch tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.53% of these flagged Citroen Dispatch defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Citroen Dispatch

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Citroen Dispatch before it actually fails on it.

1. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.3% of tests (6.34x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
2. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 16% of tests (2.87x the national rate for this advisory)
3. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 3.2% of tests (2.35x the national rate for this advisory)
4. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 6% of tests (2.09x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
5. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 2.8% of tests (1.84x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 17.5% of tests (1.43x the national rate for this advisory)
7. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 4.4% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this advisory)
8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 11.9% of tests (1.28x the national rate for this advisory)
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 24.2% of tests
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 12.8% of tests

From 43,977 DVSA-tracked Citroen Dispatch tests, 2024.

Citroen Dispatch pass rate by model year

From its 2003 to its 2021 model year, the Citroen Dispatch's first-time pass rate has risen 21.7 points, from 54.9% to 76.6%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Citroen Dispatch year:

• 2002 Citroen Dispatch - 59.1% first-time pass, 232 tests
• 2003 Citroen Dispatch - 54.9% first-time pass, 357 tests
• 2004 Citroen Dispatch - 57.2% first-time pass, 554 tests
• 2005 Citroen Dispatch - 56.2% first-time pass, 744 tests
• 2006 Citroen Dispatch - 57.1% first-time pass, 980 tests
• 2007 Citroen Dispatch - 58.4% first-time pass, 1,653 tests
• 2008 Citroen Dispatch - 60.1% first-time pass, 1,864 tests
• 2009 Citroen Dispatch - 59.7% first-time pass, 1,575 tests
• 2010 Citroen Dispatch - 61.1% first-time pass, 2,063 tests
• 2011 Citroen Dispatch - 59.1% first-time pass, 1,979 tests
• 2012 Citroen Dispatch - 61.2% first-time pass, 1,814 tests
• 2013 Citroen Dispatch - 60.8% first-time pass, 2,538 tests
• 2014 Citroen Dispatch - 62.3% first-time pass, 3,293 tests
• 2015 Citroen Dispatch - 60.5% first-time pass, 4,127 tests
• 2016 Citroen Dispatch - 65.5% first-time pass, 3,738 tests
• 2017 Citroen Dispatch - 78.7% first-time pass, 5,116 tests
• 2018 Citroen Dispatch - 81% first-time pass, 5,086 tests
• 2019 Citroen Dispatch - 79.6% first-time pass, 4,490 tests
• 2020 Citroen Dispatch - 77.4% first-time pass, 705 tests
• 2021 Citroen Dispatch - 76.6% first-time pass, 415 tests

Other Citroen models

• Citroen C3 - 70.4%
• Citroen Berlingo - 68.3%
• Citroen C1 - 75.1%
• Citroen C4 - 66%
• Citroen Ds3 - 60.4%
• Citroen Xsara - 58%
• Citroen C3 Aircross - 86.4%
• Citroen C4 Cactus - 79.2%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Renault Twingo - 66.3%
• Smart (Mcc) City Coupe - 66.3%
• Peugeot Premier - 66.3%
• Smart (Mcc) City Cabriolet - 66.1%
• Citroen C4 - 66%
• SEAT Altea - 65.9%

If this van is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

Embed this data

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate