Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 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 2003 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 2003 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 2003 Citroen Relay vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

41% 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 2003 Citroen Relay reliable?

Based on MOT data from 5,221 vehicles, the 2003 Citroen Relay has a first-time MOT pass rate of 66.8%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2003 Citroen Relay?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 Citroen Relay are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (67.4% of vehicles), Oil leak (59.3% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (48.2% 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 2003 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 (2003)

5,221 real MOT outcomes analysed • 66.8% first-time pass rate

2003 Citroen Relay

CarHunch analysed 5,221 real MOT records for the 2003 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 2003 Citroen Relay has a first-time MOT pass rate of 66.8%, notably below the UK average of 80%, and a concerning 41.1% of these vehicles have suffered dangerous defects at some point—making this a worrying choice for buyers prioritising reliability. The overwhelming majority are diesel models, and that pass rate applies across the board with no petrol alternative to consider.

At nearly 90,000 miles on average, these Relays are running high mileage for their age, yet they still accumulate an average of 5 failures and 17 advisories per test, suggesting mechanical wear is catching up fast. If you're considering one, get a full pre-purchase inspection from a diesel specialist and budget seriously for repairs, because MOT failure rates this steep mean ongoing maintenance costs will be steep too.

The 2003 Citroen Relay has a below-average first-time pass rate (66.8% 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

66.8%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

41.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.98

Over 14.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

85k

Middle half: 64k–110k

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 17.4 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 5,221 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 5,221 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 67.4%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Service brake: efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

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

Other issues 59.3%

Oil leak · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Tyre wear 48.2%

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.

Suspension & steering 23.8%

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.

Wipers & washers 21.2%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid · Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Lighting 19.5%

Nearside Stop lamp not working

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,221 Citroen Relay cars.

Before you buy a 2003 Citroen Relay

Based on MOT data from 5,221 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 41.1% 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%)	5,176	66.8%	4.99

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 2003 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.

85,232

typical

64,090

low mileage

110,472

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Citroen Relay vehicles fall between 64,090 and 110,472 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 64,090 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.

✓ 64,090–110,472 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Citroen Relays sit.

⚠ Over 149,137 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Citroen Relay — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 10% of 2003 Citroen Relays are still active.

Numbers are declining — 315 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (10% 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

14.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.98

Avg failures per vehicle

17.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Or browse all models: Citroen →

Compare with another model

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