2015 Mercedes-Benz V-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz V-Class passed 85.4% of its 6,148 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 17.0% of the time, so this is 2.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.0%) and tyres (5.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and ball joint — tread depth alone was recorded 203 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.1% versus 7.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.0% | 368 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.5% | 341 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.5% | 275 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 164 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 151 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 120 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 203 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 195 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 180 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 109 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 106 |
| 6 | Wipers | 104 |
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 | 20.8% | 1,282 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.4% | 1,006 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.2% | 563 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 365 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 275 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 129 |
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 | 226 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 748 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,195 | 17.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,085 | 16.3% |
| 120-150k | 905 | 13.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,987 | 13.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,118 | 14.5% |
| Petrol | 30 | 26.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,258 | 13.1% |
| 2022 | 1,267 | 15.1% |
| 2023 | 1,233 | 14.0% |
| 2024 | 1,218 | 15.6% |
| 2025 | 1,172 | 15.1% |
What to check before buying a 2015 V-Class
On a 2015 V-Class, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (6.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (5.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (4.5% 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.
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 V-Classs pass their MOT?
85.4% of the 6,148 2015 Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Mercedes-Benz V-Class?
Suspension, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by tyres (5.5%).
Does the 2015 V-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 13.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,148 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.