2013 Citroen Dispatch — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Citroen Dispatch passed 72.4% of its 17,519 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), the 2013 Dispatch comes out 3.3pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.0% of tests against 14.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, position lamp and stop lamp — joints alone was recorded 2,289 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.0% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.7% 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 | 22.0% | 3,856 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.7% | 2,577 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 1,366 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.0% | 1,226 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.6% | 1,149 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.4% | 939 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 2,289 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 2,190 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,058 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 897 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 842 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 764 |
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 | 24.7% | 4,328 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.1% | 3,880 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 18.0% | 3,157 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.1% | 2,821 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.2% | 2,656 |
| 6 | Suspension | 12.3% | 2,150 |
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 | 202 | 14.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,982 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 4,158 | 26.7% |
| 90-120k | 4,703 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 3,188 | 28.9% |
| 150k+ | 3,276 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,682 | 26.6% |
| 2022 | 3,722 | 28.0% |
| 2023 | 3,520 | 27.1% |
| 2024 | 3,460 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 3,135 | 27.5% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Dispatch
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 22.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (22.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.7% 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 (7.8% 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 2013 Citroen Dispatchs pass their MOT?
72.4% of the 17,519 2013 Citroen Dispatch MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Citroen Dispatch?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.0% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (14.7%).
Does the 2013 Dispatch get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.4% in the 0-30k band to 30.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,519 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.