2016 Citroen Dispatch — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Citroen Dispatch passed 75.5% of its 24,103 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (19.5% fail rate), the 2016 Dispatch comes out 4.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.0% of all tests — 8.8 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, joints and registration plate lamp(s) — position lamp alone was recorded 2,545 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.6% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 23.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.0% | 4,808 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.1% | 2,678 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.6% | 1,588 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.3% | 1,508 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.8% | 1,389 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.4% | 1,310 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 2,545 |
| 2 | Joints | 2,243 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,378 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,348 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,259 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,110 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 23.5% | 5,661 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.9% | 5,266 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 3,340 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 2,900 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 2,171 |
| 6 | Visibility | 8.3% | 1,993 |
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 | 989 | 14.5% |
| 30-60k | 5,120 | 19.6% |
| 60-90k | 7,808 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 5,773 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 2,718 | 27.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,690 | 29.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,817 | 20.9% |
| 2022 | 4,824 | 22.6% |
| 2023 | 4,896 | 25.1% |
| 2024 | 4,825 | 26.1% |
| 2025 | 4,741 | 27.6% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Dispatch
On a 2016 Dispatch, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.1% 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+.
- Brakes (6.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2016 Citroen Dispatchs pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 24,103 2016 Citroen Dispatch MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Citroen Dispatch?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.0% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (11.1%).
Does the 2016 Dispatch get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.5% in the 0-30k band to 29.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,103 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.