2011 Citroen Dispatch — MOT failures & pass rate
14,806 MOT tests on the 2011 Citroen Dispatch are in this dataset, and 70.5% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 26.5% of the time, so this is 2.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.3% 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 1,929 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.4% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 22.3% | 3,304 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.5% | 2,152 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.5% | 1,845 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.8% | 1,306 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.0% | 1,183 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.3% | 779 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 1,929 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,712 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 1,040 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 975 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 851 |
| 6 | Washers | 700 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.5% | 3,918 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.3% | 3,595 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.8% | 3,369 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.7% | 2,773 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 2,760 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.5% | 2,587 |
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 | 175 | 14.9% |
| 30-60k | 822 | 24.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,290 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 3,446 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 3,287 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 4,747 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 14,720 | 29.5% |
| Petrol | 86 | 23.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,411 | 29.0% |
| 2022 | 3,269 | 30.2% |
| 2023 | 3,015 | 29.3% |
| 2024 | 2,742 | 29.7% |
| 2025 | 2,369 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Dispatch
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 22.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (22.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.5% 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 (12.5% 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.
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 2011 Citroen Dispatchs pass their MOT?
70.5% of the 14,806 2011 Citroen Dispatch MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Citroen Dispatch?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (14.5%).
Does the 2011 Dispatch get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.9% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,806 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.