2017 Citroen Relay — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,193 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Citroen Relay, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility. Its pass rate of 81.9% was below the average for cars of a similar age (87.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 20.1% in the 150k+ group versus 11.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 734 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.7% | 625 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.4% | 391 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.3% | 236 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 227 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.9% | 207 |
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 | 378 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 332 |
| 3 | Wipers | 275 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 271 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 192 |
| 6 | Washers | 157 |
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 | 16.1% | 1,156 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.7% | 1,129 |
| 3 | Visibility | 10.0% | 721 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.1% | 657 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 450 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.1% | 441 |
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 | 1,118 | 11.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,797 | 17.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,946 | 19.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,251 | 19.9% |
| 120-150k | 726 | 21.6% |
| 150k+ | 353 | 20.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,558 | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 1,444 | 18.3% |
| 2023 | 1,383 | 17.3% |
| 2024 | 1,410 | 19.1% |
| 2025 | 1,398 | 20.3% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Relay
Before buying a 2017 Citroen Relay, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 10.2% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (10.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.7% 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.
- Visibility (5.4% 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 2017 Citroen Relays pass their MOT?
81.9% of the 7,193 2017 Citroen Relay MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Citroen Relay?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.2% of tests, followed by brakes (8.7%).
Does the 2017 Relay get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.5% in the 0-30k band to 20.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,193 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.