2010 Citroen Dispatch — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Citroen Dispatch passed 71.1% of its 15,830 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.6 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 27.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 22.2% of all tests — 8.7 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are joints, position lamp and ball joint — joints alone was recorded 1,901 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.4% versus 15.7%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.3pp more often than petrol ones (29.2% vs 23.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: emissions & environmental was flagged on 28.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 22.2% | 3,510 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 2,140 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.3% | 2,105 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.9% | 1,405 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.2% | 1,301 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.5% | 875 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 1,901 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,754 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 1,190 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 997 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 903 |
| 6 | Washers | 775 |
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 | 28.7% | 4,540 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.4% | 4,182 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.2% | 3,991 |
| 4 | Suspension | 23.9% | 3,784 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.9% | 2,992 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 2,864 |
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 | 197 | 15.7% |
| 30-60k | 712 | 20.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,084 | 27.7% |
| 90-120k | 3,519 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 3,559 | 28.5% |
| 150k+ | 5,724 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 15,117 | 29.2% |
| Petrol | 709 | 23.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,845 | 29.6% |
| 2022 | 3,560 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 3,226 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 2,793 | 28.9% |
| 2025 | 2,406 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Dispatch
On a 2010 Dispatch, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 22.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (22.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.5% 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+.
- Suspension (13.3% 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.
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 2010 Citroen Dispatchs pass their MOT?
71.1% of the 15,830 2010 Citroen Dispatch MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Citroen Dispatch?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.2% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (13.5%).
Does the 2010 Dispatch get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.7% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,830 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.