MOT fail rates
Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT fail rate by age
How often the Mercedes-Benz V-Class fails its MOT at each age, compared with all cars of the same age, and what it fails on. From 46,317 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025.
MOT data updated
At 6 years, the most tested age
191 of 340 model groups with enough tests fail less often at 6 years.
What stands out
- At 3 years the Mercedes-Benz V-Class fails 14.7% of MOTs (5,054 tests), 2.7 points above the 12.1% for all cars that age. At 10 years it fails 19.5% (1,028 tests), 10.8 points below the 30.3% average.
- The gap is widest at 10 years: 10.8 points below all cars.
- Its most common structural or mechanical fail item at 6 years: Coil spring broken, at 3.1 per 100 MOTs.
MOT fail rate by age, first used undefined or later
Solid line: this model. Dashed line: all cars at the same age.
| Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 14.7% | 5,054 | 12.1% | +2.7 pts | 32,134 miles |
| 4 years | 15.2% | 7,003 | 13.4% | +1.8 pts | 47,125 miles |
| 5 years | 16.7% | 8,703 | 15.3% | +1.4 pts | 65,505 miles |
| 6 years | 17.5% | 9,409 | 17.8% | −0.3 pts | 82,732 miles |
| 7 years | 18.5% | 7,460 | 20.6% | −2.1 pts | 95,663 miles |
| 8 years | 19.9% | 4,990 | 23.8% | −3.8 pts | 111,696 miles |
| 9 years | 21.0% | 2,670 | 27.1% | −6.2 pts | 124,297 miles |
| 10 years | 19.5% | 1,028 | 30.3% | −10.8 pts | 135,966 miles |
Most common fail items at 6 years
Split into structural or mechanical items and wear items. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
Structural and mechanical
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs |
|---|---|
| Coil spring broken Major | 3.1 |
| Suspension ball joint worn Major | 2.4 |
| Rbt (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value Dangerous | 0.8 |
| Electronic parking brake: warning indicates a malfunction Major | 0.6 |
Out of 9,409 MOTs. A test with two faults counts twice.
Wear and upkeep
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs |
|---|---|
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Dangerous | 2.7 |
| Tyre with cords exposed Dangerous | 2.6 |
| Brake pads under 1.5 mm Dangerous | 1.8 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Major | 1.6 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Major | 1.5 |
| Tyre condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Dangerous | 0.8 |
Out of 9,409 MOTs. A test with two faults counts twice.
Other models at 6 years
| Model | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 16.2% | 173,010 | 17.8% |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 15.6% | 133,032 | 17.8% |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 15.1% | 88,280 | 17.8% |
MOT fail rate by first-use year
Each year has its own page: the fail rate for cars first used that year at each MOT from 2022 to 2025 with at least 1,000 tests, the most common faults at that age, and the car tax and ULEZ rules for that year.
First-use year data updated .
More on the Mercedes-Benz V-Class
Looking at one Mercedes-Benz V-Class?
These are figures for the model, not for one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at a single car: its MOT tests, defects, advisories and mileage readings.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 22 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources