2019 Citroen Relay — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,338 MOT tests, the 2019 Citroen Relay recorded an 87.6% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (15.3% fail rate), the 2019 Relay comes out 2.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.7%) and brakes (4.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 110 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.4% in the 0-30k band and 18.2% in the 150k+ band, a 11.8-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 13.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 181 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.9% | 114 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.8% | 111 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.4% | 57 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.0% | 46 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.7% | 40 |
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 | 110 |
| 2 | Wipers | 92 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 68 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 67 |
| 5 | Washers | 29 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 24 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 13.3% | 311 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 251 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.9% | 162 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.7% | 109 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 106 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.0% | 94 |
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 | 948 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 657 | 14.0% |
| 60-90k | 357 | 16.0% |
| 90-120k | 223 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 108 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 44 | 18.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 76 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 495 | 9.5% |
| 2023 | 507 | 11.6% |
| 2024 | 626 | 14.1% |
| 2025 | 634 | 14.2% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Relay
On a 2019 Relay, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.9% 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 (4.8% 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 2019 Citroen Relays pass their MOT?
87.6% of the 2,338 2019 Citroen Relay MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Citroen Relay?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by brakes (4.9%).
Does the 2019 Relay get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 18.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,338 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.