Van · 1996–2021 cars

Citroën Dispatch reliability

The Citroën Dispatch fails 41.6% of first MOT tests, 36% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 145,747 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Well below averageReliability score 18/100#32 of 40 vans

Checking a Citroën Dispatch before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 41.6%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 36% more; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 145,747; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 12,700; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Citroën Dispatch ages

Each point is the share of Citroën Dispatchs of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Citroën DispatchAll cars

Citroën Dispatch first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Citroën Dispatch	All cars
3	27.7%	12.3%
4	27.8%	14.1%
5	28.5%	16.4%
6	35%	19.1%
7	41.8%	22.1%
8	47.7%	25.5%
9	48.6%	28.8%
10	49.5%	31.8%
11	50.2%	34.6%
12	50%	37.3%
13	49.6%	39.5%
14	49.5%	41.1%
15	50.4%	42.3%
16	49.3%	42.9%
17	51.7%	43.4%
18	52.3%	43.5%
19	50.4%	43.4%
20	47.8%	42.8%
21	49%	41.4%
22	44%	40.6%
23	44.2%	38.9%
24	48.1%	37.1%

By year

The best and worst Citroën Dispatch years

2002 cars come out best and 2016 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Citroën Dispatch MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021 Dispatch	1,103	22%	39% more fails	45,975
2020 Dispatch	5,323	28.7%	69% more fails	54,055
2019 Dispatch	11,822	28.5%	60% more fails	58,545
2018 Dispatch	14,531	27.7%	47% more fails	61,807
2017 Dispatch	14,713	27.6%	28% more fails	74,589
2016 Dispatch	11,902	42%	73% more fails	82,376
2015 Dispatch	13,603	47.3%	72% more fails	93,065
2014 Dispatch	10,808	47%	55% more fails	98,366
2013 Dispatch	8,388	49.1%	48% more fails	105,233
2012 Dispatch	6,077	49.7%	38% more fails	116,257
2011 Dispatch	6,896	50.7%	31% more fails	126,198
2010 Dispatch	7,507	49.1%	21% more fails	132,228
2009 Dispatch	5,746	50.2%	19% more fails	130,878
2008 Dispatch	7,171	48.8%	12% more fails	138,590
2007 Dispatch	6,505	50.3%	12% more fails	142,073
2006 Dispatch	4,141	51.5%	10% more fails	129,061
2005 Dispatch	3,200	52.8%	10% more fails	123,773
2004 Dispatch	2,396	49.5%	2% more fails	129,578
2003 Dispatch	1,570	51%	8% more fails	123,643
2002 Dispatch	1,034	45.3%	1% more fails	115,725
2001	494	49.2%	9% more fails	137,585
2000	306	52.6%	17% more fails	159,258
1999	282	49.6%	12% more fails	141,321

Common problems

What fails most on a Citroën Dispatch

Its weak spot is body, chassis and structure: 241% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics23.4%83% above avg
Body, chassis and structure13.5%241% above avg
Suspension10.9%10% above avg
Brakes9.9%29% above avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors9.1%81% above avg
Tyres6.7%5% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.9%4% above avg
Steering2.2%2% above avg
Seat belts and airbags1.7%33% above avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
CV joint boot split or insecure 7.81% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
2
Position lamp not working 7.32% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Stop lamp not working 4.52% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 4.12% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
5
Registration plate lamp not working 3.84% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
6
Dipped beam headlamp not working 3.48% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
7
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 3.32% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
8
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.92% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Citroën Dispatch's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit13.92%
Engine oil leak, not excessive11.97%
Brake disc pitted or scored10.37%
Brake pads wearing thin8.61%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking6.47%
Exhaust mounting defective2.92%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Citroën Dispatch

1
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Citroën Dispatch covers about 12,700 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Diesel99.4%
Petrol0.3%
LPG0.2%
Electric0%
Other0%

Most common colours

White, Silver, Grey, Black, Blue

Average engine size: 1.7 litres.

Compare

How the Citroën Dispatch compares with its rivals

Citroën Dispatch against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Fiat Ducato	25.8%	8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot Boxer	26.5%	about average for its age
Fiat Doblo	36.1%	17% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot Expert	36.6%	21% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Citroën Dispatch	41.6%	36% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Renault Kangoo	46.4%	39% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Nissan NV200	42.6%	51% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every van ranked in the van reliability index, or all Citroën models.

Questions

Citroën Dispatch questions, answered

Is the Citroën Dispatch reliable?

On MOT results, the Citroën Dispatch is well below average: it fails 41.6% of first MOT tests, 36% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 32 of 40 van models in our index.

What fails most on a Citroën Dispatch MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Citroën Dispatch are cv joint boot split or insecure (7.81% of tests), position lamp not working (7.32% of tests), stop lamp not working (4.52% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 23.4% of its tests.

Which Citroën Dispatch year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2002 cars do best (about average for its age) and 2016 cars do worst (73% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Citroën Dispatch do a year?

A typical Citroën Dispatch covers about 12,700 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Citroën Dispatch before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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