Mercedes-Benz Vito: what fails at MOT
121,000 MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz Vito in 2024, counted. 31.5% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
31.5% of Mercedes-Benz Vito tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 26.2%, so the Vito does worse than most cars its age.
It fails most often on lights and electrics (9.1% of tests), brakes (8.3% of tests) and suspension (7% of tests). It fails on brakes, wipers, washers and windscreen and exhaust and emissions 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 | 6,142 | 19.8% | 10.9% | 49,200 34,000 to 72,900 |
| 2020 | 5,937 | 23.7% | 11.5% | 57,600 39,000 to 82,700 |
| 2019 | 12,470 | 24.0% | 13.4% | 84,200 56,300 to 119,200 |
| 2018 | 9,488 | 23.0% | 15.6% | 90,400 61,700 to 132,800 |
| 2017 | 13,156 | 26.8% | 18.2% | 116,900 80,600 to 164,200 |
| 2016 | 9,230 | 28.4% | 21.3% | 112,800 81,100 to 159,200 |
| 2015 | 7,613 | 30.3% | 24.4% | 124,300 88,900 to 177,500 |
| 2014 | 6,821 | 33.5% | 27.7% | 137,500 98,500 to 191,400 |
| 2013 | 7,173 | 34.1% | 30.6% | 151,800 107,700 to 218,000 |
| 2012 | 6,272 | 35.9% | 33.4% | 149,500 112,300 to 203,200 |
| 2011 | 4,876 | 35.9% | 36.1% | 156,700 118,800 to 197,600 |
| 2010 | 5,669 | 38.5% | 38.6% | 161,100 121,600 to 207,500 |
| 2009 | 5,576 | 38.0% | 39.8% | 160,300 122,100 to 206,500 |
| 2008 | 5,901 | 41.0% | 41.5% | 165,200 127,400 to 202,200 |
| 2007 | 5,955 | 42.3% | 41.5% | 167,400 133,600 to 206,100 |
| 2006 | 5,077 | 42.5% | 42.4% | 167,100 132,600 to 204,700 |
| 2005 | 2,693 | 45.5% | 42.2% | 149,200 116,600 to 188,600 |
| 2004 | 1,203 | 45.9% | 42.3% | 137,000 105,400 to 176,000 |
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 Vito tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | Vito | Cars its age |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 9.1% | 7.1% |
| Brakes More than most | 8.3% | 4.3% |
| Suspension | 7.0% | 5.7% |
| Tyres | 4.3% | 4.2% |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen More than most | 4.1% | 3.0% |
| Exhaust and emissions More than most | 3.6% | 2.0% |
| Body and structure | 2.5% | 2.2% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.2% | 0.6% |
The parts that fail most
- Brake test4.0%
- Engine warning light2.6%
- Headlamp aim2.6%
- Tyre2.5%
- Headlamp2.5%
- Coil spring2.4%
- Washers2.3%
- Ball joint2.0%
- Side light1.8%
- Brake light1.8%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Engine warning light: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.6%
- Brake test: efficiency below requirements2.6%
- Coil spring: fractured or broken2.4%
- Ball joint: excessively worn1.9%
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam1.8%
- Side light: not working1.7%
- Brake light: not working1.7%
- Tyre tread: below requirements of 1.6mm1.6%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.5%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.4%
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 edge12.7%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened5.7%
- Brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material5.1%
- Engine oil: leak, but not excessive4.1%
- Brake pads: wearing thin4.0%
- Tyre: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing2.5%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement2.4%
- Brake discs: worn, but not excessively2.0%
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
- “When were the brake pads and discs last changed?”
- “Do the wipers and washers work properly, and is the windscreen chipped or cracked?”
- “Has it ever failed on emissions or an exhaust leak, and what was done about it?”
- “Do all the lights work, including the number plate lights and brake lights?”
Check a Mercedes-Benz Vito's own MOT record
Looking at a Vito? 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.