Citroen Spacetourer MOT pass rate & common failures
14,232 MOT tests on the Citroen Spacetourer (2011–2023) give it an 85.2% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 10.8% of the time, so this is 4.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.8%) and visibility (6.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 975 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.3% in the 0-30k band and 24.8% in the 150k+ band, a 13.5-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Spacetourer model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 212 | 84.9% | 15.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 2,538 | 83.7% | 16.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 5,508 | 85.9% | 14.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 4,034 | 86.2% | 13.8% | Visibility |
| 2020 | 1,014 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Visibility |
| 2021 | 591 | 81.9% | 18.1% | Visibility |
| 2022 | 319 | 84.3% | 15.7% | Visibility |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 968 |
| 2 | Visibility | 6.3% | 894 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.8% | 686 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.9% | 548 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 286 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 189 |
| 7 | Suspension | 1.3% | 182 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.9% | 131 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 975 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 517 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 439 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 391 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 327 |
| 6 | Washers | 187 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 169 |
| 8 | Joints | 155 |
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 | 23.1% | 3,284 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.5% | 2,912 |
| 3 | Other defects | 11.1% | 1,578 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 804 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 733 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 642 |
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 | 4,022 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 6,579 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,553 | 17.5% |
| 90-120k | 719 | 17.9% |
| 120-150k | 236 | 19.9% |
| 150k+ | 121 | 24.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 14,102 | 14.8% |
| Petrol | 130 | 13.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,714 | 12.8% |
| 2022 | 2,664 | 13.5% |
| 2023 | 2,981 | 14.7% |
| 2024 | 3,228 | 14.5% |
| 2025 | 3,645 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a Citroen Spacetourer
- Lighting & signalling (6.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (6.3% 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.
- Tyres (4.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Citroen Spacetourer?
85.2% of the 14,232 Citroen Spacetourer MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 14.8% fail rate, across model years 2011–2023.
What does the Citroen Spacetourer most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.8% of tests, then visibility (6.3%).
How much does mileage affect Spacetourer MOT results?
Fail rates run at 11.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 24.8% for 150k+, a 13.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,232 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.