2001 Citroen Dispatch — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Citroen Dispatch passed 69.9% of its 989 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail at 29.9%, so the 2001 Dispatch sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (18.5%) and lighting & signalling (16.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and ball joint — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 155 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2001 Dispatch fails 31.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 28.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.6 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 38.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.8% in 2021 to 24.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.5% | 183 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 162 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.1% | 130 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.5% | 114 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.6% | 85 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.3% | 52 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 155 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 71 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 65 |
| 4 | Wipers | 62 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 59 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 50 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 38.6% | 382 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.2% | 328 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.1% | 288 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.1% | 278 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 22.1% | 219 |
| 6 | Other defects | 20.1% | 199 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 146 | 31.5% |
| 60-90k | 73 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 73 | 24.7% |
| 120-150k | 93 | 28.0% |
| 150k+ | 166 | 28.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 333 | 28.8% |
| 2022 | 253 | 34.4% |
| 2023 | 170 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 142 | 33.8% |
| 2025 | 91 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Dispatch
On a 2001 Dispatch, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (18.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2001 Citroen Dispatchs pass their MOT?
69.9% of the 989 2001 Citroen Dispatch MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Citroen Dispatch?
Suspension, recorded in 18.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.4%).
Does the 2001 Dispatch get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.5% in the 0-30k band to 28.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 989 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.