Mercedes-Benz V-Class years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

10,158 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2015–2019 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

No Mercedes-Benz V-Class year has an MOT pass rate clearly below the average for vehicles first used in the same year. Above it: 2015–2016 and 2018. The other 2 years can't be told apart from average.

Below the average for their first-use yearNone
Above the average for their first-use year2015–2016 and 2018
Can't be told apart from average2017 and 2019

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

81.5%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 80.8% to 82.3%.

Mercedes-Benz V-Class, all years81.5%
Same-age average, all vehicles79.2%

In 2025, 81.5% of the 10,158 initial MOT tests on Mercedes-Benz V-Class cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 79.2%. That is 2.3 points above the same-age average.

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Its own MOT history, free.

Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2019age 6	2,90189,000	84.5%±1.4	+1.0 ptsall: 83.5%
2018age 7	2,40288,600	82.6%±1.6	+1.7 ptsall: 80.9%
2017age 8	2,273109,700	78.5%±1.8	+0.3 ptsall: 78.2%
2016age 9	1,575123,600	79.4%±2.1	+4.5 ptsall: 74.9%
2015age 10	1,007139,400	80.3%±2.6	+8.4 ptsall: 71.9%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Does mileage matter?

Mercedes-Benz V-Class first-time pass rates by the mileage at the initial test, all years together, against all vehicles of the same age and mileage.

80.0% of Mercedes-Benz V-Class tests at 30,000 to 59,999 miles passed first time, against 83.6% at 120,000 miles or more. For all vehicles of the same age and mileage, the figures are 81.9% and 72.1%.

Miles at the test	Tests	Passed first time	Against all vehicles, same age and mileage
30,000–59,999	1,798	80.0%±2.0	−1.8 ptsall: 81.9%
60,000–89,999	1,876	77.9%±2.0	+1.5 ptsall: 76.4%
90,000–119,999	1,585	79.6%±2.1	+6.7 ptsall: 72.8%
120,000 or more	4,284	83.6%±1.2	+11.5 ptsall: 72.1%

Against all vehicles of the same age and mileage, V-Class tests were below average at 30,000 to 59,999 miles, about average at 60,000 to 89,999 miles and above average at 90,000 miles or more.

Mileage is only one factor. How a car has been driven and looked after matters too. These figures show an association across all Mercedes-Benz V-Class tests in 2025, not what mileage does to a particular car.

Mileage is the odometer reading at the initial test. Each band is compared with all vehicles first used in the same year with a reading in the same band, weighted by this model's own tests in each year. Bands need at least 1,000 tests. Not shown, with fewer than 1,000 tests: under 30,000. 3 tests (under 0.1%) had no usable odometer reading and are left out. How we count

Common V-Class problems at the MOT

Share of the 1,876 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these add up to more than 100%.

Suspension41.7%
Tyres34.0%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.

What to check when viewing a V-Class

Based on the areas where Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Suspension
In 41.7% of failed V-Class tests
- Push down hard on each corner. The car should rise once and settle, not keep bouncing.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- The car should sit level when parked on flat ground.
Tyres
In 34.0% of failed V-Class tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a V-Class's MOT history

Mercedes-Benz V-Class questions

Which Mercedes-Benz V-Class years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, no model year is clearly below average. Above average: 2015–2016 and 2018. The rest can't be told apart from average. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Mercedes-Benz V-Class reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 81.5% of initial MOT tests on Mercedes-Benz V-Class cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 79.2%. That is 2.3 points above average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common Mercedes-Benz V-Class problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are suspension (in 41.7% of failed tests) and tyres (in 34.0% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 10-year-old Mercedes-Benz V-Class?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Mercedes-Benz V-Class cars first used in 2015, about 10 years old, had a median of 139,400 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific V-Class's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Mercedes-Benz V-Class

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Mercedes-Benz models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 23 Mercedes-Benz models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Mercedes-Benz V-Class cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count