2007 Mercedes-Benz Viano — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Mercedes-Benz Viano passed 76.9% of its 2,948 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (26.9% fail rate), the 2007 Viano comes out 3.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests against 10.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 158 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.4% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.5% in 2021 to 21.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 424 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 314 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.0% | 236 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.9% | 173 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 136 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.6% | 135 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 158 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 143 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 127 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 127 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 115 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 111 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 37.3% | 1,099 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.0% | 796 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.4% | 748 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 457 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.6% | 400 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.9% | 352 |
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 | 36 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 167 | 18.6% |
| 60-90k | 296 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 449 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 519 | 23.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,474 | 24.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,669 | 23.8% |
| Petrol | 279 | 16.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 625 | 23.5% |
| 2022 | 624 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 620 | 23.5% |
| 2024 | 576 | 23.8% |
| 2025 | 503 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Viano
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.7% 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.
- Suspension (8.0% 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.
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 2007 Mercedes-Benz Vianos pass their MOT?
76.9% of the 2,948 2007 Mercedes-Benz Viano MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Mercedes-Benz Viano?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by brakes (10.7%).
Does the 2007 Viano get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 24.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,948 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.