2021 Citroen Dispatch — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 723 MOT tests, the 2021 Citroen Dispatch recorded an 81.0% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 14.0% of the time, so this is 5.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Visibility dominates the failure mix at 12.6% of all tests — 3.2 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 100 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.3% in the 0-30k band and 25.0% in the 90-120k band, a 12.7-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 12.6% | 91 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 68 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.4% | 46 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.0% | 36 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 17 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 100 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 39 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 36 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 25 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 21 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 18 |
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 | 24.5% | 177 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.9% | 144 |
| 3 | Visibility | 9.3% | 67 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 53 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.2% | 45 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 38 |
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 | 155 | 12.3% |
| 30-60k | 341 | 21.4% |
| 60-90k | 164 | 18.3% |
| 90-120k | 52 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 365 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 353 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Dispatch
On a 2021 Dispatch, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (12.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (9.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.4% 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 2021 Citroen Dispatchs pass their MOT?
81.0% of the 723 2021 Citroen Dispatch MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Citroen Dispatch?
Visibility, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.4%).
Does the 2021 Dispatch get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.3% in the 0-30k band to 25.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 723 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.