2006 Citroen Relay 2.2L Diesel · FH55 AFJ

A persistent pattern of corrosion and front-end wear defines this 2006 Citroen Relay, with virtually every MOT entry over the past six years flagging some combination of corroded brake pipes, scored front brake discs, perishing front tyres, and corroded front coil springs. The most recent test on 2023-09-11 resulted in a failure, and although the specific failure items are not detailed in the provided record, the advisories issued on that date confirm that the chronic issues identified across the 2020, 2021, 2022, and earlier tests had not been resolved. Body structural corrosion has been progressively noted since 2019, moving from generic underbody and chassis leg advisories in 2020 to specific integral body structure corrosion within 30cm of a mounting point by 2022. A prior brake-related failure on 2019-03-19 for an offside front service brake excessively binding was the only major mechanical defect recorded, and this binding issue was reflected again as an advisory on the 2020 test, suggesting the caliper or slider mechanism was addressed at the time of repair but that the underlying wear on the front braking components has continued to advance. The 2018 stop lamp failure was trivial in nature and unrelated to the broader corrosion and wear trend now dominating the record. With 161,016 miles recorded on a 2006 commercial, the vehicle has averaged roughly 8,000 miles per year, which sits within a typical range for a working van of this age and type. There is a notable gap between the 2018 tests and the 2019 test, indicating the van may have been off the road for a period, and another noticeable gap between the 2022 pass and the 2023 failure, which could reflect either a change in usage pattern or a delay in presenting the vehicle for retest after a defect arose. The relatively consistent annual mileage suggests the vehicle has been in regular service rather than laid up for extended periods, meaning wear on suspension, braking, and drivetrain components has accumulated steadily rather than being concentrated into short bursts of heavy use followed by long static intervals. For a prospective buyer, the priority areas on inspection are the brake hydraulic system and the front suspension. The recurring advisories for corroded brake pipes covered in grease across all positions, combined with corroded ferrules on the brake hoses, indicate that the brake pipework is reaching the stage where it will soon fail an MOT on its own merits; a physical check should look for flaking metal, surface pitting, and any evidence of recent pipe replacement or underseal application. The front brake discs have been flagged as pitted or scored on multiple tests, so a test drive should include several firm stops from speed to check for pedal judder or vibration through the steering. Given the 2019 offside front caliper binding failure, particular attention should be paid to whether the van pulls to one side under braking and whether the offside front wheel rotates freely when released by hand with the caliper slackened off. The front coil springs, noted as corroded on both sides in 2021 and again in 2023, are a structural safety item that warrants a physical inspection from beneath the vehicle, ideally with the wheels off the ground to check for cracks rather than just surface corrosion. The nearside front shock absorber light oil misting flagged in 2023 should be monitored by checking for any wet residue on the shock body and listening for knocking over uneven road surfaces. Front tyre cracking has been a recurring advisory, so the tread and sidewalls should be examined closely for ozone cracking, particularly on the outer shoulders. Finally, the underbody and chassis corrosion noted in 2020 and 2022, including front chassis legs and rear body structure within 30cm of mounting points, means a thorough examination on a ramp is essential to confirm that structural rigidity remains intact and that no sections have thinned to the point of perforation, as this is the area most likely to escalate from advisory to failure on the next test.