Used car guide · 2016–2026

Citroen Spacetourer common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Citroen Spacetourer, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 8,614 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

8,614MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
7,204on the UK register
1known fault across all years
2019best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

What usually goes wrong with a Citroen Spacetourer?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Timing belt that runs in oil (PureTech petrol)

    Cars registered 2016–2026 · 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol

    The 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol engines use a timing belt that runs in the engine oil (a “wet belt”). It can break down early and shed rubber that blocks the oil supply, which can wreck the engine. Some also burn too much oil. Stellantis now covers earlier engines for belt and oil-burning problems for up to 10 years or 112,000 miles, as long as the car has been serviced on schedule.

    At the viewing: Ask for a full service history showing the right oil, and when the belt was last checked or changed. Check the oil level on the dipstick, and that no oil-pressure or engine warning light stays on.

    Source: Parkers: Stellantis wet belt compensation, and the cars at risk, Stellantis: compensation policy for earlier PureTech 1.0 and 1.2 engines (7 May 2025)

Common Citroen Spacetourer MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Number plate lights

    up to 7.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Brake discs

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021.

    Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 7.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Wipers

    up to 4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

Citroen Spacetourer MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2019 Citroen Spacetourer did best (79% passed first time, 6 points below all 2019 cars) and the 2021 did worst (72%, 15 points below all 2021 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202274%89% -15284 (small sample)
202172%87% -15697
202076%87% -11864
201979%85% -62,547
201877%83% -62,821
201773%80% -71,292
201678%77% +1109 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Citroen Spacetourer

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. When was the timing belt last checked or changed, and has it had the right oil at every service? Is the car still within Stellantis’ extended PureTech cover?
  2. Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 7.4× as often on the Citroen Spacetourer as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the brake discs? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the Citroen Spacetourer as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 7.8× as often on the Citroen Spacetourer as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Citroen Spacetourer?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score