Citroen Relay 35 L3H2 Eprise Bhdi MOT pass rate & common failures
The Citroen Relay 35 L3H2 Eprise Bhdi appears in 1,257 MOT tests spanning model years 2015–2023, and 87.2% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (9.1% fail rate), the Relay 35 L3H2 Eprise Bhdi comes out 3.7pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.0% of all tests — 3.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rbt (sp) and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 79 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.1% versus 7.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 9.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Relay 35 L3H2 Eprise Bhdi model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 206 | 86.4% | 13.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 363 | 89.3% | 10.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2021 | 489 | 84.3% | 15.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2022 | 194 | 92.3% | 7.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 100 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.9% | 62 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.5% | 44 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 25 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 21 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.7% | 21 |
| 7 | Suspension | 1.6% | 20 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.4% | 18 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 79 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 30 |
| 3 | Wipers | 30 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 29 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 22 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 20 |
| 7 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 19 |
| 8 | Washers | 19 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 9.7% | 122 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.2% | 103 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.8% | 60 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.6% | 58 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.1% | 51 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 47 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 606 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 335 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 198 | 18.2% |
| 90-120k | 86 | 22.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 53 | 13.2% |
| 2023 | 157 | 10.8% |
| 2024 | 434 | 13.1% |
| 2025 | 612 | 13.1% |
What to check before buying a Citroen Relay 35 L3H2 Eprise Bhdi
- Lighting & signalling (8.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Visibility (3.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Citroen Relay 35 L3H2 Eprise Bhdi?
87.2% of the 1,257 Citroen Relay 35 L3H2 Eprise Bhdi MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 12.8% fail rate, across model years 2015–2023.
What does the Citroen Relay 35 L3H2 Eprise Bhdi most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.0% of tests, then brakes (4.9%).
How much does mileage affect Relay 35 L3H2 Eprise Bhdi MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 22.1% for 90-120k, a 14.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,257 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.