1999 Mercedes-Benz Vito — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,042 MOT tests, the 1999 Mercedes-Benz Vito recorded a 68.0% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (29.6% fail rate), the 1999 Vito comes out 2.3pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.3% of tests against 16.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp and joints — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 160 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 Vito fails 32.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 29.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.3 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 32.3% in 2021 to 28.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.3% | 211 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.6% | 173 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.4% | 161 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 150 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.9% | 93 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.7% | 39 |
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 | 160 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 120 |
| 3 | Joints | 96 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 82 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 63 |
| 6 | Washers | 58 |
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% | 473 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.8% | 300 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.6% | 298 |
| 4 | Tyres | 21.0% | 219 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.0% | 198 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 116 |
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 | 46 | 32.6% |
| 30-60k | 73 | 28.8% |
| 60-90k | 184 | 26.6% |
| 90-120k | 213 | 33.3% |
| 120-150k | 173 | 36.4% |
| 150k+ | 242 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 771 | 30.9% |
| Petrol | 271 | 35.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 288 | 32.3% |
| 2022 | 261 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 215 | 35.8% |
| 2024 | 157 | 33.1% |
| 2025 | 121 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Vito
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.6% 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.
- Suspension (15.4% 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 1999 Mercedes-Benz Vitos pass their MOT?
68.0% of the 1,042 1999 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Mercedes-Benz Vito?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.3% of tests, followed by brakes (16.6%).
Does the 1999 Vito get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.6% in the 0-30k band to 29.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,042 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.