2012 Mercedes-Benz Vito — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz Vito passed 76.9% of its 29,920 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 25.5% of the time, so this is 2.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.5%) and brakes (11.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), coil spring and headlamp aim — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 1,880 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.2% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 4,038 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.2% | 3,336 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.6% | 2,582 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 1,788 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.4% | 1,313 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 1,264 |
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) | 1,880 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,239 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,187 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,139 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 892 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 825 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.9% | 7,150 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.8% | 6,812 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.2% | 5,455 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.7% | 2,909 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 2,684 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 2,617 |
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 | 175 | 14.9% |
| 30-60k | 958 | 16.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,204 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 5,593 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 5,473 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 14,492 | 23.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 29,849 | 23.1% |
| Petrol | 71 | 21.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,409 | 22.4% |
| 2022 | 6,427 | 22.5% |
| 2023 | 6,215 | 23.5% |
| 2024 | 5,661 | 23.8% |
| 2025 | 5,208 | 23.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Vito
On a 2012 Vito, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.2% 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 (8.6% 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz Vitos pass their MOT?
76.9% of the 29,920 2012 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Mercedes-Benz Vito?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by brakes (11.2%).
Does the 2012 Vito get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.9% in the 0-30k band to 23.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 29,920 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.