Citroen Relay years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

5,047 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2014–2017 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

All 4 Citroen Relay years have MOT pass rates below the average for vehicles first used in the same year.

Below the average for their first-use year2014–2017
Above the average for their first-use yearNone
Can't be told apart from averageNone

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

66.8%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 65.4% to 68.0%.

Citroen Relay, all years66.8%
Same-age average, all vehicles73.4%

In 2025, 66.8% of the 5,047 initial MOT tests on Citroen Relay cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 73.4%. That is 6.7 points below the same-age average.

Check a specific Relay

Its own MOT history, free.

Citroen Relay MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2017age 8	1,15182,900	69.2%±2.8	−9.0 ptsall: 78.2%
2016age 9	1,39586,000	69.3%±2.5	−5.6 ptsall: 74.9%
2015age 10	1,39896,900	65.0%±2.6	−6.9 ptsall: 71.9%
2014age 11	1,103103,600	63.2%±2.9	−5.4 ptsall: 68.6%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Does mileage matter?

Citroen Relay first-time pass rates by the mileage at the initial test, all years together, against all vehicles of the same age and mileage.

66.3% of Citroen Relay tests at 60,000 to 89,999 miles passed first time, against 60.5% at 120,000 miles or more. For all vehicles of the same age and mileage, the figures are 71.9% and 67.0%.

Miles at the test	Tests	Passed first time	Against all vehicles, same age and mileage
60,000–89,999	1,263	66.3%±2.7	−5.5 ptsall: 71.9%
90,000–119,999	1,115	62.4%±2.9	−5.9 ptsall: 68.3%
120,000 or more	1,454	60.5%±2.6	−6.5 ptsall: 67.0%

Against all vehicles of the same age and mileage, Relay tests were below average in every band shown.

Mileage is only one factor. How a car has been driven and looked after matters too. These figures show an association across all Citroen Relay tests in 2025, not what mileage does to a particular car.

Mileage is the odometer reading at the initial test. Each band is compared with all vehicles first used in the same year with a reading in the same band, weighted by this model's own tests in each year. Bands need at least 1,000 tests. Not shown, with fewer than 1,000 tests: under 30,000 and 30,000–59,999. 13 tests (0.3%) had no usable odometer reading and are left out. How we count

Common Relay problems at the MOT

Share of the 1,678 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these add up to more than 100%.

Brakes40.1%
Lights and electrics36.5%
Suspension28.5%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors15.1%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.

What to check when viewing a Relay

Based on the areas where Citroen Relay MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Brakes
In 40.1% of failed Relay tests
- On a clear road, brake firmly. The car should stop in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.
Lights and electrics
In 36.5% of failed Relay tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Suspension
In 28.5% of failed Relay tests
- Push down hard on each corner. The car should rise once and settle, not keep bouncing.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- The car should sit level when parked on flat ground.
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors
In 15.1% of failed Relay tests
- Look for chips and cracks in the windscreen, especially in front of the driver.
- Run the wipers and washers. The blades should clear the screen without smearing.
- Check both door mirrors and the rear-view mirror are intact and adjust.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a Relay's MOT history

Citroen Relay questions

Which Citroen Relay years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, these model years have below-average MOT pass rates: 2014–2017. None is clearly above average. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Citroen Relay reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 66.8% of initial MOT tests on Citroen Relay cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 73.4%. That is 6.7 points below average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common Citroen Relay problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are brakes (in 40.1% of failed tests), lights and electrics (in 36.5% of failed tests) and suspension (in 28.5% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 10-year-old Citroen Relay?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Citroen Relay cars first used in 2015, about 10 years old, had a median of 96,900 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific Relay's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Citroen Relay

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Citroen models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 18 Citroen models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Citroen Relay cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count