2012 Citroen Relay — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Citroen Relay passed 76.6% of its 4,351 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (25.7% fail rate), the 2012 Relay comes out 2.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.0% of tests against 10.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rbt (sp) and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 329 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.9% once past 150k — 3.2× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 25.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 654 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.3% | 447 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.2% | 400 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.8% | 208 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 154 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.4% | 149 |
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 | 329 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 254 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 192 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 160 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 151 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 138 |
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 | 25.4% | 1,106 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.0% | 825 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.9% | 824 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 519 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.5% | 499 |
| 6 | Visibility | 10.8% | 469 |
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 | 133 | 9.0% |
| 30-60k | 596 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,009 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,050 | 24.5% |
| 120-150k | 733 | 26.6% |
| 150k+ | 826 | 28.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 841 | 22.9% |
| 2022 | 874 | 22.7% |
| 2023 | 853 | 23.6% |
| 2024 | 916 | 23.7% |
| 2025 | 867 | 24.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Relay
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.3% 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 (9.2% 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 2012 Citroen Relays pass their MOT?
76.6% of the 4,351 2012 Citroen Relay MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Citroen Relay?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by brakes (10.3%).
Does the 2012 Relay get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.0% in the 0-30k band to 28.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,351 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.