Used buying checklist
Citroen Relay reliability, common problems and used buying checks
A used Citroen Relay looks worse than average for reliability in UK MOT data: 24.6% of 72,987 tests failed, compared with 18.7% across all indexed models. A good example should have a clean MOT history for lights and electrical, corrosion and structure, and emissions, engine, and exhaust.
It can be, if the exact car has a clean history for lights and electrical, corrosion and structure, and emissions, engine, and exhaust.
Start with lights and electrical, corrosion and structure, and emissions, engine, and exhaust, then compare the car's mileage and recall record below.
Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). MOT data does not capture every reliability issue, especially intermittent engine, gearbox or infotainment faults that do not appear during the test.
- 24.6% MOT failure rate
- Median tested mileage 96,197 miles
- 17,967 failed MOT tests analysed
Lights and electrical is the clearest area to check
Lights and electrical is the clearest named problem area in this model's MOT history (24.8 MOT notes per 100 tests). Example MOT phrases from this area include adversely affected by the operation of another lamp, warning lamp indicates an ABS fault, and inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps.
Example MOT phrases to search in the car's history:
- adversely affected by the operation of another lamp
- warning lamp indicates an ABS fault
- inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
- warning lamp indicates a fault
- corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- prescribed area is excessively corroded
- ferrule excessively corroded
- excessively weakened by corrosion
- leaking excessively from engine
- has a major leak of exhaust gases
Focus on lights and electrical, corrosion and structure, and emissions, engine, and exhaust
The model's recorded failure rate is 24.6%, +5.9 percentage points compared with the average across all models. Use the seller questions below to check whether repeat MOT notes have actually been repaired.
- MOT tests analysed72,987 tests
- Median tested mileage96,197 miles
- Failed MOT tests17,967
Should you buy a used Citroen Relay?
75.4% of the MOT tests we analysed for this model passed. The model's recorded failure rate is 24.6%, +5.9 percentage points compared with the average across all models. This is a buying brief for the exact car in front of you: clean repeat history matters more than badge reputation.
- Repeat unresolved MOT notes for lights and electrical, corrosion and structure, and emissions, engine, and exhaust
- lights and electrical appearing across more than one MOT
- Any dangerous MOT failure on the exact car, especially if the same area appears again later
- No paperwork showing applicable recall work has been completed
- A seller who cannot explain MOT wording such as "adversely affected by the operation of another lamp"
It can be, if the exact car has a clean history for lights and electrical, corrosion and structure, and emissions, engine, and exhaust.
Start with lights and electrical, corrosion and structure, and emissions, engine, and exhaust, then compare the car's mileage and recall record below.
Lights and electrical is the clearest named problem area in the MOT history (24.8 MOT notes per 100 tests). These counts are issue notes, not failure rates, because a single MOT can list several faults.
Past 100k miles on the Citroen Relay, MOT records most often point to lights and electrical, corrosion and structure, and emissions, engine, and exhaust.
The MOT failure rate rises from 15.7% at 0-3 years to 32.4% at 15+ years. Compare the car with the nearest age range before treating a fault as normal wear or a warning sign. The average MOT failure rate across all models in the same dataset is 18.7%.
Start with lights and electrical, corrosion and structure, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and suspension and steering. The checklist on this page explains why each area is being recommended, what to inspect, and what to ask the seller.
6 relevant recall notices appear for this model. Treat them as safety checks to verify for the exact car, not as normal MOT wear.
What should I check first?
Start with lights and electrical, corrosion and structure, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and suspension and steering. The checklist on this page explains why each area is being recommended, what to inspect, and what to ask the seller. Each item shows whether it comes from MOT results, recall notices, or a standard used-car check.
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Lights and electrical Seen in MOT results
Lights and electrical is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (24.8 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check every lamp, warning light, horn, battery condition, and dashboard messages.
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Corrosion and structure Seen in MOT results
Corrosion and structure is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (19.4 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Inspect sills, subframes, mounting points, arches, and underside corrosion advisories.
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Emissions, engine, and exhaust Seen in MOT results
Emissions, engine, and exhaust is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (15.2 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check warning lights, smoke, exhaust leaks, recent emissions failures, and service history.
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Suspension and steering Seen in MOT results
Suspension and steering is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (14.9 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Listen for knocks, check uneven tyre wear, and inspect steering play.
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Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors Seen in MOT results
Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (14.8 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check windscreen damage, wiper operation, washers, mirrors, and demisting.
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Tyres and wheels Seen in MOT results
Tyres and wheels is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (3.2 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check tyre age, tread depth, sidewall damage, wheel condition, and alignment wear.
What changes with mileage?
Past 100k miles on the Citroen Relay, MOT records most often point to lights and electrical, corrosion and structure, and emissions, engine, and exhaust.
Common MOT problem areas
Common faults: what usually fails on this model?
Lights and electrical is the clearest named problem area in the MOT history (24.8 MOT notes per 100 tests). These counts are issue notes, not failure rates, because a single MOT can list several faults.
Recall-related areas to verify
Official recall areas
Manufacturer recall notices for the Citroen Relay mainly involve 6 areas: brakes, mixed recall notices, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and suspension and steering. Treat each as something to verify on the specific car you are viewing; the recall table below shows the official notice text.
Mileage and age checks
Mileage changes: what starts showing up after high mileage?
Past 100k miles on the Citroen Relay, MOT records most often point to lights and electrical, corrosion and structure, and emissions, engine, and exhaust. On lower-mileage cars, the most common named areas are lights and electrical, windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, and corrosion and structure.
| Mileage range | Tests | Vehicles | Failure rate (vs all models) | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-50k | 12,001 | 9,910 | 15.3%+4.5 percentage points vs all models | 34,181 miles |
| 50-100k | 26,118 | 19,603 | 24.3%+3.5 percentage points vs all models | 76,292 miles |
| 100-150k | 21,232 | 15,307 | 28.5%+2.3 percentage points vs all models | 121,410 miles |
| 150-200k | 8,993 | 6,391 | 29.3%+2.0 percentage points vs all models | 168,389 miles |
| 200k+ | 3,700 | 2,652 | 28.4%+1.9 percentage points vs all models | 228,572 miles |
Problem areas by mileage
Past 100k miles on the Citroen Relay, MOT records most often point to lights and electrical, corrosion and structure, and emissions, engine, and exhaust.
| Mileage range | Car areas most often recorded | Specific MOT defect examples |
|---|---|---|
| 0-50k |
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| 50-100k |
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| 100-150k |
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| 150-200k |
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| 200k+ |
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Fair comparisons: is this problem normal for its age?
The MOT failure rate rises from 15.7% at 0-3 years to 32.4% at 15+ years. Compare the car with the nearest age range before treating a fault as normal wear or a warning sign. The average MOT failure rate across all models in the same dataset is 18.7%. The highest failure rate by age is 32.4% for 15+ years cars, based on 10,246 tests.
| Age range | Tests | Vehicles | Failure rate (vs all models) | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-3 years 2023–2026 reg. |
401 | 338 | 15.7%+7.3 percentage points vs all models | 3.0 years |
| 3-6 years 2020–2023 reg. |
18,199 | 14,206 | 19.8%+9.2 percentage points vs all models | 5.0 years |
| 6-10 years 2016–2020 reg. |
28,865 | 21,459 | 23.4%+6.8 percentage points vs all models | 7.8 years |
| 10-15 years 2011–2016 reg. |
15,276 | 10,874 | 27.6%+4.1 percentage points vs all models | 12.1 years |
| 15+ years pre-2011 reg. |
10,246 | 7,057 | 32.4%+6.5 percentage points vs all models | 16.8 years |
Recall records and data freshness
Recall context: are there safety notices to know about?
6 relevant recall notices appear for this model. Treat them as safety checks to verify for the exact car, not as normal MOT wear.
| 2026-01-30 | Citroen Relay Fuel Pipe Leak Affected vehicles may have been fitted with fuel return pipes not according to specification which can lead to a fuel leak. Check the fuel return pipes and replace if necessary. |
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| 2025-09-16 | Citroen Relay Wrong Proxy Configuration. Affected vehicles may have an incorrect speed limitation value displayed on the instrument cluster due to a wrong configuration. Update the configuration in the body control module. |
| 2025-08-18 | Front Camera Software. On affected vehicles the Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB) function may remain deactivated in a specific use case. Update the Front Camera software to ensure correct activation / deactivation of the AEB system. |
| 2025-05-13 | Instrument Panel Cluster Software On affected vehicles a low AdBlue level message may not be displayed on the Instrument Panel Cluster. This could lead to the possibility of not being able to start the vehicle due to an empty AdBlue tank. Update the Instrument Panel Cluster software. |
| 2025-01-16 | Citroen Relay Traffic Sign Recognition software via OTA update. On affected vehicles the traffic sign recognition function does not meet regulatory requirements. After de-activation it will remain de-activated even after vehicle restart. Update the radio software via over-the-Air. |
| 2024-10-04 | Citroen Relay (X250) Rear view camera. On affected vehicles an incorrect radio may be fitted that does not provide rear view camera functionality to comply with regulatory requirements. On the affected vehicles the radio will be replaced |
Related searches
Common ways people look up the Citroen Relay. Each link runs the search and lands on the relevant section of this report.
Related reliability guides
See where this model sits against other Citroen reports by MOT failure rate and common problem area.
Compare high-confidence model reports across all makes.
Use the fleet mileage baseline before checking this model's own mileage table.
Compare this model's age pattern with the wider MOT baseline.
Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). These are patterns from many MOT tests and recall notices. They help you decide what to inspect and what to ask; they do not certify the condition of one specific car.