2012 Citroen Dispatch — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 12,833 MOT tests, the 2012 Citroen Dispatch recorded a 71.7% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 25.5% of the time, so this is 2.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 21.7% of all tests — 7.2 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 1,638 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.4% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.7% | 2,788 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.5% | 1,863 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.2% | 1,312 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.9% | 1,015 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.6% | 975 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.6% | 722 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 1,638 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,480 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 854 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 839 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 635 |
| 6 | Washers | 565 |
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 | 25.2% | 3,239 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.5% | 3,017 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 19.1% | 2,449 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 2,235 |
| 5 | Suspension | 16.9% | 2,173 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.1% | 2,061 |
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 | 170 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 949 | 22.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,513 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 3,263 | 28.7% |
| 120-150k | 2,605 | 29.4% |
| 150k+ | 3,309 | 30.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,812 | 27.4% |
| 2022 | 2,717 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 2,636 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 2,458 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 2,210 | 28.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Dispatch
On a 2012 Dispatch, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (21.7% 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 (10.2% 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 2012 Citroen Dispatchs pass their MOT?
71.7% of the 12,833 2012 Citroen Dispatch MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Citroen Dispatch?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.7% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (14.5%).
Does the 2012 Dispatch get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 30.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,833 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.