2011 Citroen Relay — MOT failures & pass rate
4,294 MOT tests on the 2011 Citroen Relay are in this dataset, and 75.0% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 26.7% of the time, so this is 1.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.4% of all tests — 7.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rbt (sp) and registration plate lamp(s) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 322 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.4% versus 16.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 791 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.4% | 488 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.4% | 405 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 273 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.8% | 249 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 191 |
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 | 322 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 272 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 230 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 221 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 183 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 181 |
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 | 27.2% | 1,166 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.1% | 904 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.4% | 878 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.4% | 747 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 695 |
| 6 | Visibility | 11.6% | 499 |
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 | 155 | 16.8% |
| 30-60k | 421 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 843 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 903 | 25.3% |
| 120-150k | 936 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,019 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 846 | 23.5% |
| 2022 | 875 | 24.2% |
| 2023 | 833 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 902 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 838 | 26.0% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Relay
On a 2011 Relay, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.4% 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 (9.4% 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 2011 Citroen Relays pass their MOT?
75.0% of the 4,294 2011 Citroen Relay MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Citroen Relay?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.4% of tests, followed by brakes (11.4%).
Does the 2011 Relay get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.8% in the 0-30k band to 28.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,294 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.