2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Class passed 89.3% of its 14,158 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail at 11.4%, so the 2019 V-Class sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 5.8% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 350 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2019 V-Class fails 10.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.4 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 818 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.4% | 341 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.4% | 339 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.4% | 337 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 140 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 104 |
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 | 350 |
| 2 | Wipers | 297 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 230 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 142 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 138 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 107 |
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 | 18.0% | 2,546 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.7% | 1,651 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.7% | 661 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.2% | 452 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 438 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 109 |
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 | 3,600 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 4,228 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,511 | 10.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,578 | 10.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,015 | 9.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,223 | 9.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,244 | 6.0% |
| 2022 | 3,166 | 10.1% |
| 2023 | 3,250 | 10.5% |
| 2024 | 3,263 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 3,235 | 11.9% |
What to check before buying a 2019 V-Class
On a 2019 V-Class, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.8% 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.
- Visibility (2.4% 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.
- Brakes (2.4% 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.
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 2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Classs pass their MOT?
89.3% of the 14,158 2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by visibility (2.4%).
Does the 2019 V-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 9.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,158 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.