2008 Mercedes-Benz Vito — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 30,702 MOT tests, the 2008 Mercedes-Benz Vito recorded a 74.2% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (28.7% fail rate), the 2008 Vito comes out 2.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.3%) and brakes (13.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), headlamp aim and headlamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 1,920 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.5% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 4,995 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.8% | 4,243 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.6% | 3,571 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.0% | 1,849 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 1,754 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.2% | 1,594 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 1,920 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,853 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 1,634 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,486 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,344 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 1,247 |
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 | 35.8% | 10,993 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.7% | 8,203 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.2% | 6,806 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.8% | 5,165 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 5,094 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.9% | 4,267 |
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 | 127 | 18.9% |
| 30-60k | 553 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,803 | 21.7% |
| 90-120k | 4,283 | 25.9% |
| 120-150k | 6,152 | 25.9% |
| 150k+ | 17,681 | 26.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 30,653 | 25.9% |
| Petrol | 49 | 14.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,066 | 25.6% |
| 2022 | 6,716 | 25.5% |
| 2023 | 6,252 | 25.5% |
| 2024 | 5,625 | 26.4% |
| 2025 | 5,043 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Vito
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.8% 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 (11.6% 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 2008 Mercedes-Benz Vitos pass their MOT?
74.2% of the 30,702 2008 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Mercedes-Benz Vito?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by brakes (13.8%).
Does the 2008 Vito get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.9% in the 0-30k band to 26.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 30,702 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.