2015 Citroen Relay — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Citroen Relay passed 79.9% of its 8,075 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 21.5% of the time, so this is 1.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.3%) and brakes (9.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), headlamp aim and headlamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 438 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.0% once past 150k — 3.0× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 19.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 832 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.7% | 786 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.3% | 590 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.7% | 376 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.9% | 237 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 201 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 438 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 375 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 270 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 253 |
| 5 | Wipers | 241 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 211 |
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 | 19.1% | 1,544 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.6% | 1,502 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.1% | 1,466 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.6% | 771 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.5% | 606 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 604 |
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 | 514 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,651 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,139 | 19.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,700 | 22.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,006 | 24.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,061 | 26.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,399 | 17.3% |
| 2022 | 1,570 | 18.4% |
| 2023 | 1,603 | 20.3% |
| 2024 | 1,754 | 21.0% |
| 2025 | 1,749 | 22.6% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Relay
On a 2015 Relay, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.7% 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 (7.3% 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 2015 Citroen Relays pass their MOT?
79.9% of the 8,075 2015 Citroen Relay MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Citroen Relay?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.3% of tests, followed by brakes (9.7%).
Does the 2015 Relay get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 26.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,075 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.