2000 Mercedes-Benz Vito — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2000 Mercedes-Benz Vito passed 66.4% of its 929 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (29.7% fail rate), the 2000 Vito comes out 3.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (19.7%) and body, structure & corrosion (18.0%) 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, joints and headlamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 181 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2000 Vito fails 35.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 35.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.4 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 42.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 33.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 37.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.7% | 183 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.0% | 167 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.4% | 162 |
| 4 | Brakes | 17.1% | 159 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.1% | 75 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.8% | 45 |
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 | 181 |
| 2 | Joints | 115 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 85 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 81 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 80 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 72 |
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 | 42.2% | 392 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.6% | 312 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 30.8% | 286 |
| 4 | Tyres | 22.2% | 206 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.5% | 163 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 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 | 31 | 35.5% |
| 30-60k | 93 | 29.0% |
| 60-90k | 156 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 181 | 36.5% |
| 120-150k | 209 | 34.4% |
| 150k+ | 209 | 35.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 805 | 34.7% |
| Petrol | 124 | 26.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 266 | 33.5% |
| 2022 | 230 | 36.1% |
| 2023 | 170 | 30.6% |
| 2024 | 144 | 30.6% |
| 2025 | 119 | 37.0% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Vito
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (18.0% 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 (17.4% 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 2000 Mercedes-Benz Vitos pass their MOT?
66.4% of the 929 2000 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Mercedes-Benz Vito?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (18.0%).
Does the 2000 Vito get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 35.5% in the 0-30k band to 35.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 929 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.