Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2017 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 2017 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 2017 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 2017 Citroen Relay vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

36% 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 2017 Citroen Relay reliable?

Based on MOT data from 7,279 vehicles, the 2017 Citroen Relay has a first-time MOT pass rate of 78.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2017 Citroen Relay?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2017 Citroen Relay are: Oil leak, but not excessive (40.2% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (33.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (33.7% 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 2017 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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Citroen Relay (2017)

7,279 real MOT outcomes analysed • 78.5% first-time pass rate

2017 Citroen Relay

CarHunch analysed 7,279 real MOT records for the 2017 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? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2017 Citroën Relay's first-time pass rate of 78.5% is slightly below the UK average of 80%, suggesting marginally more reliability issues than typical—but the real concern is that 35.6% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above what you'd normally expect. This is a commercial vehicle with genuine wear exposure, and buyers should factor in the higher safety risk when evaluating used examples.

At 70,341 miles median for a seven-year-old van, these Relays have seen moderate use for their age, yet they're averaging 1.78 failures and 7.5 advisories per test, pointing to cumulative mechanical wear. Before purchase, get a pre-buy inspection focused on braking systems and structural integrity, as the dangerous defect rate suggests these areas are particularly vulnerable on this model.

The 2017 Citroen Relay has a decent first-time pass rate (78.5%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

78.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

35.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.78

Over 7.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

70k

Middle half: 45k–100k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 7.5 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 7,279 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 7,279 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 40.2%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction

Tyre wear 33.9%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside 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.

Brake wear 33.6%

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.

Suspension & steering 11.2%

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil

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 2017.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 7,279 Citroen Relay cars.

Before you buy a 2017 Citroen Relay

Based on MOT data from 7,279 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 35.7% 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

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 2017 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.

70,341

typical

45,218

low mileage

99,951

high mileage

Half of all 2017 Citroen Relay vehicles fall between 45,218 and 99,951 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 45,218 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.

✓ 45,218–99,951 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2017 Citroen Relays sit.

⚠ Over 134,933 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2017 Citroen Relay — Still on the Road

Most 2017 Citroen Relays are still being driven.

Strong survival — 5,656 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 83% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2018–2025.
* 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

7.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.78

Avg failures per vehicle

7.5

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 2013 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Or browse all models: Citroen →

Compare with another model

See how the 2017 Citroen Relay stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing