Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1999 Citroen Relay?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1999 Citroen Relay?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1999 Citroen Relay?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 1999 Citroen Relay vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

25% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 1999 Citroen Relay reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,105 vehicles, the 1999 Citroen Relay has a first-time MOT pass rate of 65%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1999 Citroen Relay?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1999 Citroen Relay are: Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (48.7% of vehicles), Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (46.7% of vehicles), Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (44.7% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1999 Citroen Relay?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Citroen Relay (1999)

2,105 real MOT outcomes analysed • 65% first-time pass rate

1999 Citroen Relay

CarHunch analysed 2,105 real MOT records for the 1999 Citroen Relay. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1999 Citroën Relay passes its MOT first time in only 65% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, and nearly a quarter of these vehicles (24.9%) have recorded dangerous defects—a genuine red flag for buyers concerned about safety. With almost all examples being diesel, the poor pass rate isn't a fuel-type issue but reflects the real structural or mechanical weaknesses of this particular model at this age.

At nearly 104,000 miles on average, these vans have covered reasonable ground for a 25-year-old vehicle, yet they're accumulating an average of 3 failures and 11.6 advisories per test, suggesting chronic wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. Before buying one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on braking, suspension, and structural integrity, and budget for repairs—these aren't vehicles to buy cheaply and ignore.

The 1999 Citroen Relay has a below-average first-time pass rate (65% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

65%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

24.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.06

Over 8.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

98k

Middle half: 76k–125k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 11.6 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 2,105 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,105 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Suspension & steering 48.7%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 36.6%

Horn not working · Oil leak

Brake wear 34.5%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 27.2%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Wipers & washers 25.1%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Lighting 24.8%

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1999.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,105 Citroen Relay cars.

Before you buy a 1999 Citroen Relay

Based on MOT data from 2,105 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 24.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (99%)	2,081	65%	3.02

Colour Breakdown

Based on 107,229 Citroen Relay vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 76.1%

81,612

Silver 7.9%

8,519

Blue 6.1%

6,565

Red 3.7%

3,959

Grey 2.1%

2,300

Black 1.8%

1,918

Yellow 1.3%

1,348

Green 0.5%

536

Gold 0.2%

180

Orange 0.1%

116

Beige 0.1%

Purple 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1999 Citroen Relay vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

97,917

typical

75,530

low mileage

124,516

high mileage

Half of all 1999 Citroen Relay vehicles fall between 75,530 and 124,516 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 75,530 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 75,530–124,516 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1999 Citroen Relays sit.

⚠ Over 168,096 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1999 Citroen Relay — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 14% of 1999 Citroen Relays are still active.

Numbers are declining — 43 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (14% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

8.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.06

Avg failures per vehicle

11.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Citroen Relay: All Relay years → Which year to buy? →

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Buyer beware — pass it on