Mercedes-Benz Vaneo
From 647 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin and bush or joint excessively worn. The top issue, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, caused 47 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 47 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 39 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 33 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 28 |
| lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 25 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 24 |
| a suspension component excessively damaged or corroded | 20 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 18 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 18 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 18 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 17% of Vaneo failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 33.3% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £116.
Mercedes-Benz Vaneo on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 58 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 58. At this rate, roughly 10.3 years until none remain. Now at 22.6% of its peak (2,544 in 2007 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 277 | 299 | +0 | -5 | -5 |
| 2025 Q2 | 280 | 301 | +0 | -18 | -18 |
| 2025 Q1 | 296 | 303 | +0 | -11 | -11 |
| 2024 Q4 | 306 | 304 | +0 | -24 | -24 |
| 2024 Q3 | 329 | 305 | +0 | -16 | -16 |
| 2024 Q2 | 343 | 307 | +0 | -18 | -18 |
| 2024 Q1 | 359 | 309 | +0 | -28 | -28 |
| 2023 Q4 | 386 | 310 | +0 | -24 | -24 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 63.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2004 | 64.6% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2003 | 64.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
Typical mileage
Half of all Vaneos tested had between 49,475 and 97,722 miles on the clock.
At 64,210 median miles, the Vaneo has 0.052 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Common questions
What is the Mercedes-Benz Vaneo MOT pass rate?
The Mercedes-Benz Vaneo has a 66.8% MOT pass rate based on 647 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz Vaneo?
The most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz Vaneo is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 47 failures. Other common issues include brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded.
How many Mercedes-Benz Vaneos are on UK roads?
There are 277 Mercedes-Benz Vaneos currently licensed on UK roads, with 299 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mercedes-Benz Vaneo at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mercedes-Benz Vaneo is 64,210 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 49,475 and 97,722 miles.
Buying a used Vaneo?
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.
With a 66.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £116 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.