2015 Mercedes-Benz Citan — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz Citan passed 76.9% of its 15,930 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 21.3% of the time, so this is 1.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.5% of all tests — 6.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are joints, stop lamp and track rod end — joints alone was recorded 993 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.7% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 34.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 2,463 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.7% | 1,383 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 1,049 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.1% | 978 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.0% | 950 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.8% | 928 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 993 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 874 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 812 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 801 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 781 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 747 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 34.4% | 5,487 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.3% | 4,345 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 2,242 |
| 4 | Visibility | 10.1% | 1,609 |
| 5 | Suspension | 8.9% | 1,417 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.9% | 1,104 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 323 | 11.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,399 | 18.3% |
| 60-90k | 4,253 | 22.0% |
| 90-120k | 4,044 | 24.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,641 | 25.3% |
| 150k+ | 2,265 | 26.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 15,898 | 23.1% |
| Petrol | 32 | 9.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,222 | 19.7% |
| 2022 | 3,286 | 22.0% |
| 2023 | 3,218 | 23.3% |
| 2024 | 3,118 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 3,086 | 25.8% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Citan
On a 2015 Citan, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2015 Mercedes-Benz Citans pass their MOT?
76.9% of the 15,930 2015 Mercedes-Benz Citan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Mercedes-Benz Citan?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by brakes (8.7%).
Does the 2015 Citan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.2% in the 0-30k band to 26.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,930 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.