Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT pass rate and common failures
In 2025, 81.0% of Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT tests were a first-time pass, across 12,503 tests in Great Britain. For all cars it was 71.5%.
Compared with cars of the same age
Older cars fail more often, so a model that’s mostly a few years old will look better than one that’s mostly 12. These figures compare like with like.
At 3–5 years
84.1%
All cars: 86.1% (2 points worse). 3,274 tests.
At 6–10 years
80.9%
All cars: 76.1% (4.8 points better). 8,576 tests.
At 11 years and over
60.3%
All cars: 61.3% (1 points worse). 411 tests.
Pass rate by age
Figures by age, with typical mileage
| Age (years) | Tests | First-time pass | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 498 | 84.9% | 87.8% | 36,250 miles |
| 4 | 753 | 81.7% | 86.4% | 51,250 miles |
| 5 | 2,023 | 84.8% | 84.5% | 78,750 miles |
| 6 | 2,692 | 83.1% | 81.9% | 88,750 miles |
| 7 | 2,202 | 80.1% | 79.3% | 101,250 miles |
| 8 | 1,918 | 79.9% | 76.3% | 118,750 miles |
| 9 | 1,410 | 79.1% | 73.1% | 131,250 miles |
| 10 | 354 | 81.9% | 70.0% | 143,750 miles |
| 13 | 50 | 82.0% | 62.1% | 56,250 miles |
| 20+ | 361 | 57.3% | 61.4% | 116,250 miles |
Typical mileage is the median reading at the test, to the nearest 2,500 miles.
What fails most often
The share of Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT tests that failed on at least one item in each area, against all cars. A test can fail on several areas at once.
| Area | V-Class | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 10.0% | 13.7% |
| Tyres | 9.0% | 8.4% |
| Brakes | 6.8% | 10.2% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 3.6% | 16.6% |
| Visibility | 2.8% | 5.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.8% | 4.0% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 1.5% | 4.2% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 0.8% | 1.1% |
Most common reasons for failing
- Coil spring: fractured or broken failed 3.8% of tests · what this means
- Ball joint excessively worn failed 2.7% of tests · what this means
- Condition: has ply or cords exposed failed 2.7% of tests
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm failed 2.6% of tests
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively failed 1.6% of tests · what this means
- Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords failed 1.5% of tests
- Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction failed 1.4% of tests · what this means
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick failed 1.4% of tests · what this means
- Rbt (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value failed 0.8% of tests
- Condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure failed 0.8% of tests
Checking a particular V-Class?
See its own MOT history, mileage record and advisories in plain English. Free, no sign-up.
About these figures
- They cover every V-Class version DVSA records under this name (engines, trims and generations together), on its first MOT test of each visit. A “pass with rectification” (fixed within an hour) counts as a fail, as in DVSA’s own statistics.
- Cars under three years old are left out, because the few tested that young are mostly taxis.
- Fuel mix of the cars tested: diesel 96.6%, petrol 3.4%, liquefied petrolum gas (lpg) 0.0%.
- A pass rate describes the model, not any one car. How a car has been looked after matters more.
Download these figures (CSV) · Other Mercedes-Benz models · All makes
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data for 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Our own analysis; not produced or endorsed by DVSA.