2008 Citroen Dispatch — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 14,665 MOT tests, the 2008 Citroen Dispatch recorded a 70.4% pass rate. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (28.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.4% of tests against 14.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, position lamp and ball joint — joints alone was recorded 1,447 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.0% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 28.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.4% | 2,988 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.5% | 2,120 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 1,960 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.9% | 1,604 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.9% | 1,164 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.4% | 792 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 1,447 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,401 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 1,052 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 932 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 770 |
| 6 | Wipers | 724 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 28.4% | 4,170 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.3% | 4,150 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.3% | 3,996 |
| 4 | Brakes | 27.0% | 3,959 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.7% | 2,892 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 2,553 |
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 | 108 | 13.9% |
| 30-60k | 469 | 20.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,432 | 25.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,975 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 3,552 | 29.9% |
| 150k+ | 6,100 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,704 | 28.9% |
| 2022 | 3,412 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 3,008 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 2,494 | 30.0% |
| 2025 | 2,047 | 30.8% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Dispatch
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.4% 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 2008 Citroen Dispatchs pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 14,665 2008 Citroen Dispatch MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Citroen Dispatch?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.4% of tests, followed by suspension (14.5%).
Does the 2008 Dispatch get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.9% in the 0-30k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,665 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.