2020 Mercedes-Benz V-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz V-Class passed 87.9% of its 3,367 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 10.9% of the time, so this is 1.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 7.7% of all tests — 4.8 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 101 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 V-Class fails 10.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 4.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.7% | 259 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.9% | 97 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.5% | 83 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.2% | 39 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 34 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 12 |
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 | 101 |
| 2 | Wipers | 99 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 60 |
| 4 | Electronic parking brake | 25 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 24 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 23 |
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 | 21.7% | 731 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.6% | 391 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.3% | 178 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 129 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.5% | 118 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 27 |
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 | 1,073 | 10.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,285 | 13.1% |
| 60-90k | 597 | 13.4% |
| 90-120k | 241 | 11.6% |
| 120-150k | 97 | 11.3% |
| 150k+ | 73 | 9.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 82 | 4.9% |
| 2022 | 177 | 5.7% |
| 2023 | 1,006 | 11.8% |
| 2024 | 1,037 | 13.0% |
| 2025 | 1,065 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 V-Class
On a 2020 V-Class, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.7% 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 (2.9% 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 (2.5% 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 2020 Mercedes-Benz V-Classs pass their MOT?
87.9% of the 3,367 2020 Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Mercedes-Benz V-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by visibility (2.9%).
Does the 2020 V-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.4% in the 0-30k band to 9.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,367 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.