1997 Mercedes-Benz Vito — MOT failures & pass rate
509 MOT tests on the 1997 Mercedes-Benz Vito are in this dataset, and 64.8% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 29.6% of the time, so this is 5.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.9%) and brakes (18.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp and joints — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 75 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1997 Vito fails 37.8% of the time in the 60-90k band and 36.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.5 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 45.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 35.2% in 2021 to 33.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.9% | 96 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.5% | 94 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.9% | 76 |
| 4 | Suspension | 14.7% | 75 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.3% | 42 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.5% | 33 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 75 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 41 |
| 3 | Joints | 38 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 38 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 36 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 30 |
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 | 45.4% | 231 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.1% | 184 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 29.9% | 152 |
| 4 | Tyres | 17.5% | 89 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.5% | 79 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.0% | 66 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 156 | 37.8% |
| 90-120k | 87 | 35.6% |
| 120-150k | 76 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 132 | 36.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 311 | 33.8% |
| Petrol | 198 | 37.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 145 | 35.2% |
| 2022 | 119 | 35.3% |
| 2023 | 96 | 36.5% |
| 2024 | 74 | 35.1% |
| 2025 | 75 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Vito
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (18.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.9% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1997 Mercedes-Benz Vitos pass their MOT?
64.8% of the 509 1997 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 35.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Mercedes-Benz Vito?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.9% of tests, followed by brakes (18.5%).
Does the 1997 Vito get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 37.8% in the 60-90k band to 36.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 509 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.