2013 Mercedes-Benz Viano — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz Viano passed 79.3% of its 4,153 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail at 20.0%, so the 2013 Viano sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.9%) and brakes (9.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), side repeaters and headlamp aim — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 234 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 Viano fails 18.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 21.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 494 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.2% | 382 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.3% | 219 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.7% | 193 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 153 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 127 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 234 |
| 2 | Side repeaters | 190 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 172 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 122 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 109 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 103 |
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 | 24.1% | 1,003 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.6% | 774 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.0% | 663 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.2% | 382 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 362 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.9% | 288 |
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 | 98 | 18.4% |
| 30-60k | 405 | 14.3% |
| 60-90k | 777 | 20.3% |
| 90-120k | 757 | 23.4% |
| 120-150k | 684 | 20.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,429 | 21.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 851 | 19.4% |
| 2022 | 857 | 19.3% |
| 2023 | 868 | 21.2% |
| 2024 | 800 | 21.8% |
| 2025 | 777 | 21.9% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Viano
On a 2013 Viano, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.2% 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.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
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 2013 Mercedes-Benz Vianos pass their MOT?
79.3% of the 4,153 2013 Mercedes-Benz Viano MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mercedes-Benz Viano?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.9% of tests, followed by brakes (9.2%).
Does the 2013 Viano get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.4% in the 0-30k band to 21.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,153 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.