Buying Report · £14.99
Tools

MOT fail rates by first-use year

2006 Citroen Dispatch MOT fail rate and common faults

How Citroen Dispatch cars first used in 2006 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2023, against all cars of the same age. From 2,908 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 17 years, tested in 2023

MOT fail rate at age 17 (n=1,311)48.4%
All cars at 17 years (n=4,040,458)43.1%
Difference+5.3 pts
MOT tests of 2006 cars, 2022 to 20232,908

What stands out

  • In 2023, at 17 years old, Citroen Dispatch cars first used in 2006 failed 48.4% of MOTs (1,311 tests), 5.3 points above the 43.1% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2023, as these cars went from 16 to 17 years old, the fail rate moved from 52.2% to 48.4%.
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Citroen Dispatch at 17 years, is driveshaft CV boot split, at 9.5 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 3.2).

MOT fail rate by test year

Citroen Dispatch cars first used in 2006: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
202216 years52.2%1,59742.6%+9.6 pts
202317 years48.4%1,31143.1%+5.3 pts

Most common faults at 17 years

These figures cover all Citroen Dispatch MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=5,815). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Driveshaft CV boot split9.53.2
Side/position light not working Wear9.05.8
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength7.61.9
Suspension ball joint worn6.22.4
Brake light not working Wear4.74.0
Wipers not clearing screen Wear4.32.8
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear3.33.0
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Wear3.11.9
Handbrake too weak3.02.7
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear2.83.6

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=5,815). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive29.211.7
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear18.017.9
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened11.811.3
Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated11.03.9
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear10.65.9
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear9.79.6
Coil spring: corroded7.37.5
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material7.110.5
Brake pads wearing thin Wear6.46.6
Suspension ball joint: slight play6.12.5

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=5,815). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 17 years

These figures cover all Citroen Dispatch MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=5,815). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Diesel100.0%49.6%5,80843.2%134,960 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 17 years

These figures cover all Citroen Dispatch MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=5,815). At 17 years, Citroen Dispatch cars at over 150,000 miles failed more often (51.6%, n=1,905) than those at 90,000 to 120,000 miles (48.1%, n=1,075). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
90,000 to 120,000 miles48.1%1,07546.2%
120,000 to 150,000 miles50.7%1,24147.1%
Over 150,000 miles51.6%1,90546.5%

Car tax rules for a 2006 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2006 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Citroen Dispatch

Other Citroen models first used in 2006

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Citroen Xsara (2006)19 years in 202547.8%3,79343.2%
Citroen C3 (2006)19 years in 202546.9%3,69943.2%
Citroen C1 (2006)19 years in 202547.9%3,90843.2%
Citroen C4 (2006)19 years in 202549.5%1,27643.2%
Citroen C2 (2006)19 years in 202543.4%1,21343.2%

More on the Citroen Dispatch

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2006 Citroen Dispatch cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.