2017 Mercedes-Benz Citan — MOT failures & pass rate
20,593 MOT tests on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz Citan are in this dataset, and 80.0% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (17.8% fail rate), the 2017 Citan comes out 2.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.3% of all tests — 9.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, joints and tread depth — stop lamp alone was recorded 1,711 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.3% versus 11.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 3,346 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.4% | 1,324 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.3% | 1,294 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.0% | 1,235 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 1,118 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.0% | 610 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 1,711 |
| 2 | Joints | 1,078 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,037 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,036 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 957 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 849 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.3% | 5,415 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.3% | 5,201 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 2,413 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.8% | 1,806 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.3% | 1,084 |
| 6 | Suspension | 4.8% | 990 |
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 | 1,088 | 11.9% |
| 30-60k | 5,000 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 6,296 | 20.6% |
| 90-120k | 4,577 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,137 | 22.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,482 | 22.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 20,369 | 20.1% |
| Petrol | 224 | 14.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,036 | 15.9% |
| 2022 | 4,154 | 18.9% |
| 2023 | 4,186 | 20.3% |
| 2024 | 4,162 | 22.1% |
| 2025 | 4,055 | 23.0% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Citan
On a 2017 Citan, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.4% 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.
- Visibility (6.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2017 Mercedes-Benz Citans pass their MOT?
80.0% of the 20,593 2017 Mercedes-Benz Citan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Mercedes-Benz Citan?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by brakes (6.4%).
Does the 2017 Citan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.9% in the 0-30k band to 22.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,593 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.