2016 Citroen Relay — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,941 MOT tests, the 2016 Citroen Relay recorded an 81.5% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 19.7% of the time, so this is 1.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (9.4%) and lighting & signalling (9.2%) 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 wipers — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 381 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.4% in the 0-30k band and 20.4% in the 150k+ band, a 11.0-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 16.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 9.4% | 744 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 730 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.9% | 389 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.7% | 372 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.7% | 213 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 189 |
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) | 381 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 366 |
| 3 | Wipers | 274 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 265 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 192 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 167 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 16.8% | 1,332 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.6% | 1,321 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.9% | 1,026 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.8% | 776 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.6% | 603 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 527 |
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 | 869 | 9.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,026 | 15.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,077 | 19.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,479 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 786 | 24.2% |
| 150k+ | 704 | 20.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,433 | 16.7% |
| 2022 | 1,527 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 1,521 | 17.2% |
| 2024 | 1,733 | 19.9% |
| 2025 | 1,727 | 21.4% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Relay
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 9.4% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (9.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2016 Citroen Relays pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 7,941 2016 Citroen Relay MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Citroen Relay?
Brakes, recorded in 9.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.2%).
Does the 2016 Relay get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.4% in the 0-30k band to 20.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,941 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.