2016 Mercedes-Benz Citan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 21,643 MOT tests, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Citan recorded a 77.7% pass rate. That is 2.8 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 19.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests against 8.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, stop lamp and tread depth — joints alone was recorded 1,621 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.0% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 3,342 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.1% | 1,754 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 1,547 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.5% | 1,411 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.1% | 1,319 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.9% | 851 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 1,621 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 1,455 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,233 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,069 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 965 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 918 |
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 | 30.8% | 6,666 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.9% | 5,827 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 2,894 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.9% | 1,928 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.6% | 1,431 |
| 6 | Suspension | 5.8% | 1,254 |
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 | 593 | 12.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,967 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 6,511 | 22.3% |
| 90-120k | 5,401 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 3,056 | 25.1% |
| 150k+ | 2,110 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 21,517 | 22.4% |
| Petrol | 126 | 13.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,282 | 18.6% |
| 2022 | 4,321 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 4,413 | 23.0% |
| 2024 | 4,377 | 24.3% |
| 2025 | 4,250 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Citan
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.1% 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 (7.1% 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 2016 Mercedes-Benz Citans pass their MOT?
77.7% of the 21,643 2016 Mercedes-Benz Citan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Mercedes-Benz Citan?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by brakes (8.1%).
Does the 2016 Citan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 0-30k band to 25.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,643 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.