Mercedes-Benz Vito 119 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 5 model years and 1,444 tests, the Mercedes-Benz Vito 119 passes its MOT 88.6% of the time. That is 2.3 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.0%. Its most common failure areas are tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.3%) and brakes (3.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 35 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.7% versus 4.8%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Vito 119 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 153 | 87.6% | 12.4% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 512 | 89.1% | 10.9% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 692 | 88.4% | 11.6% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 83 | 90.4% | 9.6% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.3% | 77 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.3% | 47 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.6% | 38 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.8% | 26 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 18 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 6 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.3% | 4 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 35 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 32 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 30 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 19 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 12 |
| 6 | Washers | 10 |
| 7 | Ball joint | 10 |
| 8 | Rbt (sp) | 10 |
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 | 21.8% | 314 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.5% | 210 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.2% | 104 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.8% | 98 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.9% | 56 |
| 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 | 270 | 4.8% |
| 30-60k | 674 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 339 | 13.3% |
| 90-120k | 102 | 18.6% |
| 120-150k | 44 | 22.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 36 | 11.1% |
| 2023 | 216 | 10.7% |
| 2024 | 562 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 629 | 11.1% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz Vito 119
- 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.
- Brakes (3.3% 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.
- Visibility (2.6% 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.
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 119?
88.6% of the 1,444 Mercedes-Benz Vito 119 MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 11.4% fail rate, across model years 2018–2022.
What does the Mercedes-Benz Vito 119 most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests, then brakes (3.3%).
How much does mileage affect Vito 119 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 4.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 22.7% for 120-150k, a 17.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,444 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.