Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 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 2013 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 2013 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 2013 Citroen Relay vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

44% 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 2013 Citroen Relay reliable?

Based on MOT data from 4,201 vehicles, the 2013 Citroen Relay has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Citroen Relay?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Citroen Relay are: Oil leak, but not excessive (46.6% of vehicles), Parking brake efficiency below requirements (43.7% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (40.5% 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 2013 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 (2013)

4,201 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.3% first-time pass rate

2013 Citroen Relay

CarHunch analysed 4,201 real MOT records for the 2013 Citroen Relay. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 2013 Citroën Relay has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.3%, which sits noticeably below the UK average of 80%, signalling below-average reliability for this model year. More concerning is that 43.5% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is well above acceptable and a serious red flag for any buyer considering one.

These are working vans with genuinely high mileage—the median sits at 90,868 miles—so the 3.26 average failures and 16 advisories per test reflect the wear you'd expect from commercial use. Before committing to purchase, get a thorough pre-buy inspection focused on braking systems, suspension, and electrical components, since those dangerous defects don't appear by accident on vehicles this hard-worked.

The 2013 Citroen Relay has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.3% 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

73.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

43.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.26

Over 11.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

91k

Middle half: 63k–124k

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 16 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 4,201 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 4,201 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 46.6%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread

Brake wear 43.7%

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

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

Tyre wear 40.5%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

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

Suspension & steering 27.8%

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil · Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil · Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · …

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 4,201 Citroen Relay cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Citroen Relay

Based on MOT data from 4,201 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 43.5% 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 (100%)	4,198	73.3%	3.26

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 2013 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.

90,868

typical

63,067

low mileage

124,389

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Citroen Relay vehicles fall between 63,067 and 124,389 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 63,067 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.

✓ 63,067–124,389 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Citroen Relays sit.

⚠ Over 167,925 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Citroen Relay — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 66% of 2013 Citroen Relays are still active.

2,592 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 66% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* 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

11.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.26

Avg failures per vehicle

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 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Or browse all models: Citroen →

Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Citroen Relay stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on