Mercedes-Benz Citan: what fails at MOT
29,000 MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz Citan in 2024, counted. 37.3% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
37.3% of Mercedes-Benz Citan tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 19.7%, so the Citan does worse than most cars its age.
It fails most often on lights and electrics (14.8% of tests), brakes (7% of tests) and tyres (5.6% of tests). It fails on lights and electrics, brakes and tyres more often than most cars its age.
By year of registration
Older cars fail more, whatever the model. So each year is shown beside the figure for all cars first used that year.
| First used | Tests | Failed first time | All cars that year | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,254 | 29.0% | 10.9% | 46,100 31,400 to 65,200 |
| 2020 | 1,711 | 31.7% | 11.5% | 56,300 38,600 to 78,900 |
| 2019 | 2,970 | 32.2% | 13.4% | 78,200 54,600 to 109,200 |
| 2018 | 5,008 | 36.0% | 15.6% | 81,100 59,900 to 108,100 |
| 2017 | 4,631 | 36.6% | 18.2% | 90,400 65,700 to 118,300 |
| 2016 | 4,695 | 39.2% | 21.3% | 96,900 73,700 to 125,600 |
| 2015 | 3,316 | 40.0% | 24.4% | 105,100 76,900 to 136,700 |
| 2014 | 3,211 | 41.0% | 27.7% | 118,600 90,600 to 147,300 |
| 2013 | 2,022 | 44.5% | 30.6% | 121,500 98,200 to 153,700 |
Green is at least three points better than other cars that year, red at least three points worse. Typical mileage is the middle reading at the test, with the range the middle half of cars fell in.
Where it fails
The share of Mercedes-Benz Citan tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | Citan | Cars its age |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics More than most | 14.8% | 4.2% |
| Brakes More than most | 7.0% | 2.8% |
| Tyres More than most | 5.6% | 3.9% |
| Body and structure More than most | 5.6% | 1.0% |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen More than most | 5.3% | 2.3% |
| Suspension More than most | 4.4% | 3.2% |
| Steering More than most | 3.6% | 0.7% |
| Exhaust and emissions | 1.8% | 1.2% |
The parts that fail most
- Brake light6.0%
- Driveshaft joint4.8%
- Number plate light3.9%
- Side light3.9%
- Track rod end3.4%
- Tyre tread3.3%
- Brake pads3.0%
- Tyre2.9%
- Washers2.8%
- Headlamp2.4%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Brake light: not working5.2%
- Driveshaft joint: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.6%
- Side light: not working3.6%
- Number plate light: inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps3.3%
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.2%
- Tyre tread: below requirements of 1.6mm3.2%
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.9%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.2%
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.0%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.9%
What testers warn about
Advisories are things that passed this time but are wearing. They are the best guide to next year's bills.
- Tyre tread: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge16.7%
- Brake pads: wearing thin8.1%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened7.8%
- Brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material6.9%
- Tyre: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing3.0%
- Track rod end: ball joint has slight play2.6%
- Brake light: non-obligatory stop lamp not working2.5%
- Brake discs: worn, but not excessively2.3%
What these figures can't tell you
An MOT is a safety and emissions test. These figures show how often the model fails that test. They say nothing about engines, gearboxes or electronics that break between tests, and how a car has been looked after matters more than its badge. The car you are looking at has its own MOT record, and that is the one to read.
Ask before you travel
- “Do all the lights work, including the number plate lights and brake lights?”
- “When were the brake pads and discs last changed?”
- “How much tread is left on each tyre, and how old are they?”
- “Is there any corrosion underneath or around the sills and arches?”
Check a Mercedes-Benz Citan's own MOT record
Looking at a Citan? Type its registration to see every test that car has had, what it failed on and what it was warned about, free.
Where this comes from
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The counting is Hindsight's own.
First-attempt MOT tests of cars first used 2004 to 2021. A test counts as failed if it failed or only passed after a repair during the test. Retests are left out. Built on 13 November 2026.