1998 Mercedes-Benz Vito — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Mercedes-Benz Vito passed 64.9% of its 1,112 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.5 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 29.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (21.6%) and body, structure & corrosion (18.6%) 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 208 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 33.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 37.5% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 44.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 34.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 36.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.6% | 240 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.6% | 207 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.1% | 201 |
| 4 | Brakes | 17.0% | 189 |
| 5 | Visibility | 11.0% | 122 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.0% | 55 |
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 | 208 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 140 |
| 3 | Joints | 130 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 96 |
| 5 | Wipers | 84 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 64 |
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 | 44.0% | 489 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.1% | 357 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.9% | 299 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.2% | 214 |
| 5 | Other defects | 18.2% | 202 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 167 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 78 | 33.3% |
| 60-90k | 241 | 31.1% |
| 90-120k | 291 | 36.4% |
| 120-150k | 219 | 35.2% |
| 150k+ | 267 | 37.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 715 | 36.1% |
| Petrol | 397 | 33.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 297 | 34.7% |
| 2022 | 280 | 35.4% |
| 2023 | 197 | 36.0% |
| 2024 | 175 | 32.6% |
| 2025 | 163 | 36.8% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Vito
On a 1998 Vito, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (21.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (18.6% 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+.
- Suspension (18.1% 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 1998 Mercedes-Benz Vitos pass their MOT?
64.9% of the 1,112 1998 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 35.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Mercedes-Benz Vito?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.6% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (18.6%).
Does the 1998 Vito get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 33.3% in the 30-60k band to 37.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,112 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.