2021 Mercedes-Benz V-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,500 MOT tests, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz V-Class recorded an 87.1% pass rate. That is 2.4 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 10.5%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.3% of tests against 2.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, shock absorbers and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 42 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 V-Class fails 13.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 12.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.6 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 2.2% of tests failed in 2022 against 13.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.3% | 110 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.9% | 44 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.6% | 39 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.5% | 37 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 28 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 42 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 36 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 35 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 26 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 7 |
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 | 18.1% | 272 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 166 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.2% | 93 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 56 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.4% | 51 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 9 |
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 | 674 | 13.1% |
| 30-60k | 538 | 12.6% |
| 60-90k | 155 | 14.2% |
| 90-120k | 67 | 10.4% |
| 150k+ | 40 | 12.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 46 | 2.2% |
| 2023 | 91 | 6.6% |
| 2024 | 687 | 14.0% |
| 2025 | 654 | 13.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 V-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.3% 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 (2.6% 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 2021 Mercedes-Benz V-Classs pass their MOT?
87.1% of the 1,500 2021 Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Mercedes-Benz V-Class?
Tyres, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by visibility (2.9%).
Does the 2021 V-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.1% in the 0-30k band to 12.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,500 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.