Citroen Spacetourer MOT Failures

An analysis of 4,770 real DVSA MOT tests on the Citroen Spacetourer — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: G1 (2016–2022).

Where the Citroen Spacetourer fails its MOT

The single biggest MOT failure point on the Citroen Spacetourer is rear registration plate lamp or light source mi... — this model is 16 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 4,770 MOT tests, 3.36% of all Citroen Spacetourer tests recorded this as a failure.

Lighting faults are usually straightforward to fix (bulbs, connectors, earth points) but can indicate deeper wiring issues on older cars. Check all lights including fog lamps, number plate lights, and dashboard warning lights.

Other notable weak points include wiper fault (8.1x the fleet average), seat mounting fault (5.7x the fleet average), headlight fault (5.5x the fleet average), and transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot... (5.2x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Citroen Spacetourer's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.

The failures span 4 categories: Lights & Electrics, Wipers & Windscreen, Seatbelts & Airbags, Bodywork. If you're inspecting a Citroen Spacetourer before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.

How failures change with mileage

The Citroen Spacetourer's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.

Under 60,000 miles

At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.

For the Citroen Spacetourer specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are rear registration plate lamp or light source mi... (16x the average) and wiper fault (8.1x). seat mounting fault (5.7x) and headlight fault (5.5x) also appear frequently.

60,000 to 100,000 miles

This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.

The standout failure at this mileage is rear registration plate lamp or light source mi... at 6.0x the fleet average.

Known issues beyond the MOT

An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Citroen Spacetourer specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.

Excessive fluid leaking (1.5 BlueHDi) Major

The 1.5 BlueHDi engine develops significant oil leaks that fail MOT environmental standards at 7.1 times the national fleet average. Affects G1; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£400.

Premature brake disc wear (all engines) Major

All diesel variants show significantly accelerated brake disc wear, failing MOT thickness standards at up to 44.9 times the national fleet average. Affects G1; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£500.

DPF blocking and regeneration failure (all diesels) Major

All diesel variants use diesel particulate filters that are prone to blocking when used primarily for short journeys typical of commercial applications. Affects G1; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£600.

Accelerated brake pad wear (all engines)

This abnormal wear rate appears consistent across the model range and is likely related to the commercial vehicle duty cycle and braking system design.. Affects G1; typical independent garage repair cost is £120–£200.

For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Citroen Spacetourer common problems breakdown.

What to check before buying a Citroen Spacetourer

Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Citroen Spacetourer:

Lights & Electrics — check for rear registration plate lamp or light source mi..., headlight fault. Wipers & Windscreen — check for wiper fault. Seatbelts & Airbags — check for seat mounting fault.

Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about excessive fluid leaking and premature brake disc wear. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £200. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.

Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.

MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.