2015 Mercedes-Benz Vito — MOT failures & pass rate
31,883 MOT tests on the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Vito are in this dataset, and 79.7% of them passed. That is 1.1 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 21.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.9%) and brakes (8.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, rbt (sp) and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 1,307 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2015 Vito fails 21.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 21.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.0 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 2,831 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.8% | 2,805 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.9% | 2,211 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 1,863 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.9% | 1,545 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 1,509 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,307 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 1,243 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,105 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,104 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 933 |
| 6 | Washers | 924 |
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 | 22.5% | 7,181 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.4% | 6,200 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.4% | 3,313 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.4% | 2,376 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.7% | 2,145 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 1,746 |
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 | 662 | 21.3% |
| 30-60k | 3,289 | 15.6% |
| 60-90k | 6,587 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 6,365 | 20.5% |
| 120-150k | 4,961 | 21.4% |
| 150k+ | 9,735 | 21.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,353 | 18.4% |
| 2022 | 6,510 | 20.1% |
| 2023 | 6,428 | 19.7% |
| 2024 | 6,388 | 21.3% |
| 2025 | 6,204 | 21.7% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Vito
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.8% 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 (6.9% 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 2015 Mercedes-Benz Vitos pass their MOT?
79.7% of the 31,883 2015 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Mercedes-Benz Vito?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.9% of tests, followed by brakes (8.8%).
Does the 2015 Vito get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.3% in the 0-30k band to 21.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,883 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.