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Citroen Dispatch Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Citroen Dispatch reliable? We analysed 1,114,316 real MOT tests across 87,828 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,114,316 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
68.8%
Typical Mileage
91,170mi
Annual Mileage
8,093mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Citroen Dispatch is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, registration plate lamp not working and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Citroen Dispatch.

Citroen Dispatch Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Citroen Dispatch. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Citroen Dispatch MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Citroen Dispatch to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

79.1%
2022
75.2%
2021
78.4%
2020
77.2%
2019
77.9%
2018
78.6%
2017
71.1%
2016
69.2%
2015
69.5%
2014
69.4%
2013
68.4%
2012
67.4%
2011
67.2%
2010
67.3%
2009
67%
2008
66.9%
2007
68.2%
2006
67.7%
2005
68.4%
2004
68.3%
2003

Citroen Dispatch Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Citroen Dispatch fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 31,685
Registration plate lamp not working 26,287
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 26,227
position lamp(s) not working 24,481
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 15,659
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 14,615
Stop lamp not working 13,735
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 12,177
Headlamp aim too low 9,977

Citroen Dispatch Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Citroen Dispatch models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 13,457

Citroen Dispatch Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Citroen Dispatch owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,793 mi/yr
Typical
8,093 mi/yr
Average
10,657 mi/yr
Heavy usage
12,993 mi/yr

Citroen Dispatch MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Citroen Dispatch year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 129 79.1% 11,206 21,323 37,989
2021 1,256 75.2% 36,545 52,834 73,539
2020 2,677 78.4% 38,597 54,868 75,323
2019 25,787 77.2% 40,529 61,756 87,610
2018 34,884 77.9% 41,731 63,649 91,495
2017 44,171 78.6% 46,323 69,471 97,441
2016 40,021 71.1% 49,494 73,586 102,022
2015 51,781 69.2% 52,092 79,141 111,203
2014 47,518 69.5% 53,400 81,616 114,761
2013 41,165 69.4% 54,136 84,199 119,671
2012 34,705 68.4% 59,760 91,888 131,373
2011 45,551 67.4% 62,485 96,278 138,690
2010 57,230 67.2% 62,982 98,322 143,334
2009 49,429 67.3% 60,624 96,476 143,322
2008 72,426 67.0% 66,150 102,636 149,245
2007 79,928 66.9% 66,587 103,049 149,880
2006 67,513 68.2% 60,034 91,980 129,343
2005 70,812 67.7% 59,644 90,834 126,274
2004 71,942 68.4% 61,432 92,795 127,104
2003 66,417 68.3% 60,713 91,010 124,790

How Long Does a Citroen Dispatch Last?

Based on 87,828 Citroen Dispatch vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.1 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Citroen Dispatch Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Citroen Dispatch MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
91,170 mi
75th Percentile
129,114 mi
95th Percentile
203,719 mi
Max Recorded
2,020,021 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Citroen Dispatch

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2022

79.1% MOT pass rate from 129 tests

Year to avoid
1999

65.2% MOT pass rate from 28,691 tests

The best year to buy a used Citroen Dispatch is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.1% across 129 tests. The 1999 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Citroen Dispatch Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Citroen Dispatch THIS CAR 68.8% 1,114,316 91,170 mi 29 yrs
Citroen Xsara 69.1% 5,047,330 77,497 mi 28 yrs
Citroen Berlingo 70.1% 4,453,235 83,738 mi 29 yrs
Citroen C3 72.7% 4,435,918 53,913 mi 24 yrs
Toyota Carina 67.9% 357,148 108,157 mi 38 yrs

Compared to the Citroen Xsara (69.1% pass rate) and the Citroen Berlingo (70.1% pass rate), the Citroen Dispatch trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Citroen Dispatch?

The Citroen Dispatch has an overall MOT pass rate of 68.8% across 1,114,316 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Citroen Dispatch are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (31,685 recorded failures), registration plate lamp not working (26,287), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (26,227). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Citroen Dispatch with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Citroen Dispatch owner drives around 8,093 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Citroen Dispatch models stay on UK roads for around 29 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Citroen Dispatch — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Citroen Dispatch reliable?
Based on 1,114,316 MOT tests, the Citroen Dispatch has a 68.8% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Citroen Dispatch?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, registration plate lamp not working, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Citroen Dispatch do per year?
The typical Citroen Dispatch does around 8,093 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Citroen Dispatch last?
Most Citroen Dispatch models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 87,828 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Citroen Dispatch?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Citroen Dispatch?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Citroen Dispatch is 2022 with a 79.1% pass rate across 129 tests.