2005 Citroen Relay — MOT failures & pass rate
3,252 MOT tests on the 2005 Citroen Relay are in this dataset, and 66.8% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (29.8% fail rate), the 2005 Relay comes out 3.5pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (19.8%) and lighting & signalling (17.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, chassis condition and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 972 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 26.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 37.5% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 31.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.8% | 645 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 559 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.2% | 495 |
| 4 | Brakes | 14.2% | 462 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.8% | 252 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.9% | 126 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 972 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 384 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 363 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 244 |
| 5 | Wipers | 223 |
| 6 | Joints | 212 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.8% | 1,067 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.7% | 997 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 27.5% | 895 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.2% | 624 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.1% | 555 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 509 |
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 | 64 | 26.6% |
| 30-60k | 326 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 750 | 30.3% |
| 90-120k | 849 | 34.6% |
| 120-150k | 704 | 36.2% |
| 150k+ | 552 | 37.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 836 | 31.3% |
| 2022 | 739 | 33.8% |
| 2023 | 640 | 34.2% |
| 2024 | 556 | 34.0% |
| 2025 | 481 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Relay
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 19.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (19.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (17.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.2% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2005 Citroen Relays pass their MOT?
66.8% of the 3,252 2005 Citroen Relay MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Citroen Relay?
Suspension, recorded in 19.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.2%).
Does the 2005 Relay get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.6% in the 0-30k band to 37.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,252 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.