MOT fail rates by first-use year
2021 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT fail rate and common faults
How Mercedes-Benz Vito cars first used in 2021 did at their MOTs from 2024 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 10,427 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 4 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 4 years old, Mercedes-Benz Vito cars first used in 2021 failed 22.9% of MOTs (5,155 tests), 9.5 points above the 13.4% for all cars that age.
- From 2024 to 2025, as these cars went from 3 to 4 years old, the fail rate moved from 20.6% to 22.9%.
- Mercedes-Benz Vito cars first used a year earlier, in 2020, failed 26.0% at the same age of 4 years (4,458 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Mercedes-Benz Vito at 4 years, is tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative, at 2.2 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 0.3).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 years | 20.6% | 5,272 | 12.1% | +8.5 pts |
| 2025 | 4 years | 22.9% | 5,155 | 13.4% | +9.5 pts |
Most common faults at 4 years
These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz Vito MOTs at 4 years: cars first used 2018 to 2021, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=25,400). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Wipers not clearing screen Wear | 4.8 | 2.5 |
| Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear | 2.5 | 1.3 |
| Dipped headlight not working Wear | 2.3 | 0.4 |
| Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative | 2.2 | 0.3 |
| Coil spring broken | 2.1 | 0.2 |
| Engine warning lamp at the diesel emissions check: not working or showing a fault | 1.8 | 0.3 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 1.8 | 1.4 |
| Handbrake too weak | 1.7 | 0.1 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear | 1.4 | 1.5 |
| Headlamp aim: too low Wear | 1.3 | 0.6 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=25,400). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 13.1 | 12.4 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 7.4 | 6.9 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 5.5 | 5.2 |
| Shock absorber misting oil | 5.2 | 1.2 |
| Windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view | 3.7 | 1.5 |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively | 3.6 | 1.7 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 3.2 | 6.3 |
| Wipers: blade defective Wear | 2.2 | 1.3 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit, under the 1.0 mm rule Wear | 2.1 | 1.8 |
| Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre | 1.4 | 2.1 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=25,400). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 4 years
These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz Vito MOTs at 4 years: cars first used 2018 to 2021, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=25,400). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 98.0% | 24.5% | 24,899 | 16.5% | 64,929 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 4 years
These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz Vito MOTs at 4 years: cars first used 2018 to 2021, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=25,400). At 4 years, Mercedes-Benz Vito cars at over 150,000 miles failed more often (28.6%, n=1,467) than those at under 30,000 miles (16.4%, n=2,743). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30,000 miles | 16.4% | 2,743 | 10.2% |
| 30,000 to 60,000 miles | 24.1% | 8,572 | 15.5% |
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 26.0% | 6,945 | 20.7% |
| 90,000 to 120,000 miles | 26.6% | 3,690 | 23.1% |
| 120,000 to 150,000 miles | 25.7% | 1,756 | 23.7% |
| Over 150,000 miles | 28.6% | 1,467 | 23.8% |
Car tax rules for a 2021 car
- Cars first registered from 1 April 2017 pay a first-year rate set by CO2 emissions, then the standard rate each year. A petrol, diesel or hybrid car with a list price over £40,000 also pays the expensive car supplement for five years, from the second tax payment.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Diesel cars first registered from September 2015 usually meet Euro 6, the diesel standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Mercedes-Benz Vito
More on the Mercedes-Benz Vito
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2021 Mercedes-Benz Vito cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
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 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.