2010 Mercedes-Benz Viano — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz Viano passed 79.2% of its 2,788 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests against 8.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, side repeaters and individual direction indicators — headlamp aim alone was recorded 161 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.7% in the 0-30k band and 21.0% in the 150k+ band, a 4.3-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 458 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.3% | 230 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.2% | 174 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.6% | 155 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 105 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 99 |
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 | 161 |
| 2 | Side repeaters | 132 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 115 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 104 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 103 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 93 |
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 | 27.9% | 779 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.6% | 686 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.6% | 463 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 347 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.9% | 332 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.2% | 312 |
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 | 16.7% |
| 30-60k | 161 | 16.2% |
| 60-90k | 364 | 20.3% |
| 90-120k | 478 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 461 | 22.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,286 | 21.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,676 | 21.0% |
| Petrol | 112 | 17.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 577 | 19.8% |
| 2022 | 596 | 21.5% |
| 2023 | 583 | 21.8% |
| 2024 | 527 | 19.7% |
| 2025 | 505 | 21.4% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Viano
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.3% 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 (6.2% 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 2010 Mercedes-Benz Vianos pass their MOT?
79.2% of the 2,788 2010 Mercedes-Benz Viano MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Mercedes-Benz Viano?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by brakes (8.3%).
Does the 2010 Viano get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 0-30k band to 21.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,788 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.