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Mercedes-Benz V-Class reliability

B · Good

MOT pass rates and common problems from 73,128 MOT tests of cars first registered 2002–2022.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
82.2%pass first time
+4.2 ptsvs typical car
Beats 79%of cars
73,128MOT tests

Verdict

The Mercedes-Benz V-Class passes its MOT first time on 82.2% of tests, 4.2 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (78.0%). That puts it ahead of 79% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2015 V-Class does best (beats 89% of cars) and the 2021 worst (beats 26%).

Better than average on visibility, lights & electrics, emissions & leaks.

Watch these weak spots

Coil springs2.0×as often as a typical car
Suspension ball joints1.9×as often as a typical car
Handbrake performance1.9×as often as a typical car
Electronic parking brake24.5×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

65%70%75%80%85%90%34567891086%83%83%83%81%80%79%80%
Mercedes-Benz V-ClassTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2002
Beats 61%
2015
Beats 89%
2016
Beats 86%
2017
Beats 74%
2018
Beats 74%
2019
Beats 82%
2020
Beats 56%
2021
Beats 26%
2022
Beats 30%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.1 Diesel2015–201960,79482.3%Beats 80%B
2.0 Diesel2019–202211,15385.1%Beats 74%B
2.2 Diesel2002–20021,18155.0%Beats 61%B

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 1.3% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 4.8% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 2.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 7.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 7.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 4.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 2.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 7.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+5.7 ptsTyres: 7.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.9 ptsBrakes: 4.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+0.6 ptsSuspension: 4.8% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−0.3 ptsExhaust: 1.3% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.9 ptsSuspension: 4.8% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 4.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 7.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 2.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 7.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 1.3% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 2.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 7.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+5.7 ptsTyres: 7.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.9 ptsBrakes: 4.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+0.6 ptsSuspension: 4.8% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−0.3 ptsExhaust: 1.3% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.9 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Tyres: 7.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Tyres
7.0% vs 6.1%
Suspension
4.8% vs 4.4%
Brakes
4.1% vs 4.6%
Visibility
3.0% vs 3.9%
Lights & electrics
2.1% vs 7.8%
Emissions & leaks
1.3% vs 2.2%
Body & structure
0.9% vs 1.5%
Wheels
0.5% vs 0.3%
Seat belts & airbags
0.4% vs 0.6%
Steering
0.2% vs 0.9%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Coil springs 2.0× typical
    Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
  • Suspension ball joints 1.9× typical
    Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
  • Handbrake performance 1.9× typical
    Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.
  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Tyre tread depth
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
  • Windscreen wipers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

60%70%80%90%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k150k89%84%81%82%82%81%82%82%
Mercedes-Benz V-ClassTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking4.5%3.3%1.4×
Tyre tread depth2.4%2.5%1.0×
Coil springs2.2%1.1%2.0×
Windscreen wipers2.0%2.0%1.0×
Brake pads1.6%2.3%0.7×
Suspension ball joints1.6%0.8%1.9×
Handbrake performance1.3%0.7%1.9×
Headlight aim0.9%2.5%0.4×
Windscreen washers0.9%1.6%0.5×
Engine warning light0.8%1.1%0.7×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements24.2
A tyre cords visible or damaged22.6
A tyre seriously damaged22.6
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened21.9
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen19.8
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn17.4
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm15.2
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction11.0
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2022 Mercedes-Benz V-Class1 engine83.3% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel1,02483.3%Beats 30%D
2021 Mercedes-Benz V-Class1 engine83.1% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel1,71983.1%Beats 26%D
2020 Mercedes-Benz V-Class1 engine83.8% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel3,44383.8%Beats 56%C
2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Class2 engines84.9% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.1 Diesel9,13483.8%Beats 71%B
2.0 Diesel4,96787.1%Beats 95%A
2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Class1 engine83.2% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.1 Diesel14,25083.2%Beats 74%B
2017 Mercedes-Benz V-Class1 engine81.6% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.1 Diesel15,20381.6%Beats 74%B
2016 Mercedes-Benz V-Class1 engine81.8% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.1 Diesel12,62881.8%Beats 86%A
2015 Mercedes-Benz V-Class1 engine81.0% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.1 Diesel9,57981.0%Beats 89%A
2002 Mercedes-Benz V-Class1 engine55.0% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel1,18155.0%Beats 61%B

FAQ

What is the Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT pass rate?

82.2% of MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz V-Class were passed first time, based on 73,128 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2002–2022. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 78.0% of the time.

Is the Mercedes-Benz V-Class reliable?

On MOT results it rates B (good): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 79% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Mercedes-Benz V-Class year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2015 V-Class does best for its age and mileage: it beats 89% of cars on UK roads. The 2021 does worst: it beats 26%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Mercedes-Benz V-Class?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, tyre tread depth, coil springs. Compared with similar cars, coil springs comes up 2.0× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.