Mercedes-Benz V-Class
From 23,274 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer V-Classs fare better: 2023 models pass at 96.6% vs 85.5% for 2015.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements. The top issue, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, caused 451 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 451 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 426 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 355 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 338 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 331 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 233 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 212 |
| parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value | 128 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 119 |
| parking brake inoperative on one side | 114 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 30% of V-Class failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 49.1% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £142.
Fuel type matters
Diesel versions pass at 86.3% while Petrol versions pass at 64.9%, a 21 percentage point gap.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 484 newly registered in the past year with 317 leaving, a net gain of 167. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 12,858 | 1,180 | +144 | -30 | +114 |
| 2025 Q2 | 12,797 | 1,127 | +116 | -39 | +77 |
| 2025 Q1 | 12,657 | 1,190 | +152 | -157 | -5 |
| 2024 Q4 | 12,696 | 1,156 | +72 | -91 | -19 |
| 2024 Q3 | 12,734 | 1,137 | +69 | -22 | +47 |
| 2024 Q2 | 12,681 | 1,143 | +464 | -16 | +448 |
| 2024 Q1 | 12,235 | 1,141 | +600 | -80 | +520 |
| 2023 Q4 | 11,742 | 1,114 | +286 | -123 | +163 |
18 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| V 300 Amg Line D Auto | Diesel | 2,279 | 18% |
| V250 Sport Bluetec Auto | Diesel | 1,986 | 16% |
| V 220 D Amg Line Auto | Diesel | 1,920 | 15% |
| V 250 Amg Line D Auto | Diesel | 1,419 | 11% |
| V220 Sport Bluetec Auto | Diesel | 1,029 | 8% |
| V 220 Sport D Auto | Diesel | 711 | 6% |
| V220 D Sport Auto | Diesel | 666 | 5% |
| V220 Se Bluetec Auto | Diesel | 431 | 3% |
| V 300 Exclusive D Auto | Diesel | 407 | 3% |
| V250 D Sport Auto | Petrol | 327 | 3% |
| V 220 D Sport Marco Polo Auto | Diesel | 295 | 2% |
| V 300 Sport D Auto | Diesel | 224 | 2% |
| V250 Se Bluetec Auto | Diesel | 212 | 2% |
| V 250 D Sport Marco Polo Auto | Diesel | 178 | 1% |
| V 250 D Amg Line Marco Polo A | Diesel | 168 | 1% |
| V 300 Amg Line Marco Polo D A | Diesel | 157 | 1% |
| V220 Cdi Ambiente Auto | Diesel | 141 | 1% |
| V 250 D Sprt Marco Polo Hrzn A | Diesel | 58 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 96.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 2022 | 93.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2021 | 81.2% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2020 | 86.9% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
11 earlier years
| 2019 | 88.7% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2018 | 86.4% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2017 | 86.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2016 | 85.7% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2015 | 85.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2003 | 60.8% | a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2002 | 72.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2001 | 66.7% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2000 | 59.8% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1999 | 61% | a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1998 | 57% | lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led |
Typical mileage
Half of all V-Classs tested had between 32,631 and 117,436 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 46,176 median miles, the V-Class has 0.031 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Common questions
What is the Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT pass rate?
The Mercedes-Benz V-Class has a 85.8% MOT pass rate based on 23,274 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz V-Class?
The most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz V-Class is a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, which caused 451 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Mercedes-Benz V-Classs are on UK roads?
There are 12,858 Mercedes-Benz V-Classs currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,180 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mercedes-Benz V-Class at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mercedes-Benz V-Class is 46,176 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 32,631 and 117,436 miles.
Buying a used V-Class?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.