Mercedes-Benz Viano
From 10,544 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Vianos fare better: 2015 models pass at 79.8% vs 73.8% for 2004.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a direction indicator lamp missing and inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 313 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 suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 313 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 268 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 259 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 222 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 219 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 213 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 182 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 168 |
| an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction | 165 |
| parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value | 158 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 15% of Viano failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 34.4% 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 £111.
Mercedes-Benz Viano on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 218 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 8 newly registered, a net loss of 210. At this rate, roughly 24.9 years until none remain. Now at 74.6% of its peak (6,948 in 2015 Q1).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 4,161 | 1,021 | +3 | -51 | -48 |
| 2025 Q2 | 4,230 | 1,000 | +0 | -58 | -58 |
| 2025 Q1 | 4,295 | 993 | +3 | -23 | -20 |
| 2024 Q4 | 4,381 | 927 | +2 | -86 | -84 |
| 2024 Q3 | 4,496 | 896 | +2 | -51 | -49 |
| 2024 Q2 | 4,589 | 852 | +2 | -44 | -42 |
| 2024 Q1 | 4,636 | 847 | +2 | -70 | -68 |
| 2023 Q4 | 4,717 | 834 | +1 | -72 | -71 |
8 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viano Ambiente 2.2 Cdi Blue-Cy | Diesel | 1,459 | 39% |
| Viano Cdi2.2 Amb Long A | Diesel | 818 | 22% |
| Viano Ambient 3.0Cdi Blue-Cy A | Diesel | 573 | 15% |
| Viano Cdi2.2 Amb Xlong A | Diesel | 346 | 9% |
| Viano Ambiente Cdi Lwb A | Diesel | 231 | 6% |
| Viano Ambiente Cdi Elwb A | Diesel | 171 | 5% |
| Viano Avantgarde Cdi Blue-Cy A | Diesel | 120 | 3% |
| Viano Cdi2.2 Amb Comp A | Diesel | 69 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 79.8% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2014 | 78.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2013 | 77.5% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2012 | 76.6% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
8 earlier years
| 2011 | 78.6% | a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2010 | 75.2% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2009 | 71.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2008 | 73.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2007 | 72.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2006 | 69.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2005 | 69.3% | 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 suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2004 | 73.8% | 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, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Vianos tested had between 123,518 and 219,220 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 165,115 median miles, the Viano has 0.015 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Common questions
What is the Mercedes-Benz Viano MOT pass rate?
The Mercedes-Benz Viano has a 75% MOT pass rate based on 10,544 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz Viano?
The most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz Viano is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 313 failures. Other common issues include parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement.
How many Mercedes-Benz Vianos are on UK roads?
There are 4,161 Mercedes-Benz Vianos currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,021 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mercedes-Benz Viano at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mercedes-Benz Viano is 165,115 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 123,518 and 219,220 miles.
Buying a used Viano?
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 75% pass rate and an average repair bill of £111 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.