Citroen Relay MOT Failures
An analysis of 308,805 real DVSA MOT tests on the Citroen Relay — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: Gen1 (1994–2006), Gen2 (2006–2024).
Where the Citroen Relay fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Citroen Relay is power steering fault — this model is 597 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it an extreme outlier for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 308,805 MOT tests, 0.4% of all Citroen Relay tests recorded this as a failure.
Steering faults include worn track rod ends, power steering leaks, and rack wear. These are safety-critical — any play in the steering should be investigated immediately.
Other notable weak points include structural corrosion (152x the fleet average), abs fault (275x the fleet average), coil springs broken (244x the fleet average), and restriction in free movement of the braking system (326x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Citroen Relay's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 5 categories: Steering, Bodywork, Suspension, Brakes, Tyres. If you're inspecting a Citroen Relay before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Citroen Relay's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Citroen Relay specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are restriction in free movement of the braking system (326x the average) and coil springs broken (244x). power steering fault (233x) and structural corrosion (117x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Citroen Relay specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are abs fault (275x the average) and power steering fault (240x). structural corrosion (152x) and load sensing valve seized or inoperative and ab... (96x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Citroen Relay specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are reflector colour or position not in accordance ... (221x the average) and power steering fault (146x). coil springs broken (99x) and structural corrosion (72x) also appear frequently.
The shift from restriction in free movement of the braking system at lower mileages to reflector colour or position not in accordance ... at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Citroen Relay specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Subframe mounting point corrosion Dangerous
The load-bearing structure around subframe, spring, and suspension mounting points corrodes severely on Relay models, with MOT data showing failure rates up to 3274.4x the national fleet average. Affects All; typical independent garage repair cost is £800–£2,000.
Suspension bush and component wear Major
Suspension bushes, pins and joints wear excessively on Relay models, showing MOT failure rates up to 963.2x the national fleet average. Affects All; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£600.
Turbo failure Major
Variable geometry turbochargers on DW10 and DW12 engines suffer from actuator seizure and bearing failure, particularly when service intervals are extended or low-quality oil is used. Affects All; typical independent garage repair cost is £600–£1,200.
DPF issues Major
Diesel Particulate Filters block frequently on Relay models used for urban delivery work with insufficient sustained high-speed driving for natural regeneration. Affects All; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£800.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Citroen Relay common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Citroen Relay
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Citroen Relay:
Steering — check for power steering fault. Bodywork — check for structural corrosion, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that t.... Suspension — check for abs fault, coil springs broken.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about subframe mounting point corrosion and suspension bush and component wear. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £800. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Citroen Relay?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Citroen Relay MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Citroen Relay?
Based on 308,805 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is power steering fault — at 597x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include structural corrosion and abs fault.
Is the Citroen Relay reliable based on MOT data?
The Citroen Relay has 17 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag subframe mounting point corrosion as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Citroen Relay most commonly fails on reflector colour or position not in accordance ... and power steering fault. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are restriction in free movement of the braking system and coil springs broken.
How do I check a Citroen Relay's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.