2009 Citroen Relay — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Citroen Relay passed 72.5% of its 3,935 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (28.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.0% of tests against 12.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rbt (sp) and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 382 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.1% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.0% | 788 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.9% | 506 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.4% | 449 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 272 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 258 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.2% | 243 |
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 | 382 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 293 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 216 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 202 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 197 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 195 |
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 | 30.5% | 1,201 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.7% | 855 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.5% | 807 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 782 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.5% | 648 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.6% | 575 |
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 | 82 | 12.2% |
| 30-60k | 409 | 19.3% |
| 60-90k | 657 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 836 | 27.3% |
| 120-150k | 790 | 30.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,159 | 31.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 818 | 26.0% |
| 2022 | 842 | 26.4% |
| 2023 | 799 | 27.7% |
| 2024 | 776 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 700 | 28.3% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Relay
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.9% 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.
- Suspension (11.4% 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.
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 2009 Citroen Relays pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 3,935 2009 Citroen Relay MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Citroen Relay?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.0% of tests, followed by brakes (12.9%).
Does the 2009 Relay get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.2% in the 0-30k band to 31.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,935 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.