Mercedes-Benz Vito 116Cdi Select MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 7 model years and 829 tests, the Mercedes-Benz Vito 116Cdi Select passes its MOT 89.9% of the time. That is 2.1 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 8.1%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.4%) and brakes (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 19 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Vito 116Cdi Select fails 6.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 5.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.8 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.2% of tests failed in 2022 against 11.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Vito 116Cdi Select model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 58 | 93.1% | 6.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 346 | 86.4% | 13.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2021 | 206 | 90.8% | 9.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2022 | 41 | 90.2% | 9.8% | Brakes |
| 2023 | 67 | 95.5% | 4.5% | Tyres |
| 2024 | 73 | 90.4% | 9.6% | Brakes |
| 2025 | 38 | 100.0% | 0.0% | - |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 28 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.1% | 26 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.9% | 24 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 19 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 13 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 8 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 6 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.2% | 2 |
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 | 19 |
| 2 | Wipers | 17 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 17 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 13 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 8 |
| 6 | Washers | 7 |
| 7 | Tread depth | 6 |
| 8 | Ball joint | 6 |
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 | 15.6% | 129 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.0% | 91 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.9% | 57 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 29 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.1% | 26 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.5% | 12 |
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 | 261 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 245 | 12.7% |
| 60-90k | 150 | 14.0% |
| 90-120k | 77 | 11.7% |
| 120-150k | 40 | 10.0% |
| 150k+ | 56 | 5.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 65 | 6.2% |
| 2023 | 152 | 8.6% |
| 2024 | 243 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 356 | 11.5% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz Vito 116Cdi Select
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.1% 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 (2.9% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes-Benz Vito 116Cdi Select?
89.9% of the 829 Mercedes-Benz Vito 116Cdi Select MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 10.1% fail rate, across model years 2019–2025.
What does the Mercedes-Benz Vito 116Cdi Select most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.4% of tests, then brakes (3.1%).
How much does mileage affect Vito 116Cdi Select MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 5.4% for 150k+, a 0.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 829 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.