2016 Mercedes-Benz Vito — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 38,522 MOT tests, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Vito recorded an 80.3% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail at 19.5%, so the 2016 Vito sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.3%) and brakes (8.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, malfunction indicator lamp and ball joint — coil spring alone was recorded 2,080 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2016 Vito fails 17.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 19.2% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.3% | 3,203 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.3% | 3,181 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 2,572 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.3% | 2,414 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 1,728 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 1,580 |
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 | 2,080 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,446 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 1,360 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 1,339 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,108 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,084 |
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% | 8,677 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.8% | 7,995 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.2% | 3,175 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.5% | 2,906 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.1% | 2,345 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 1,951 |
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 | 1,090 | 17.3% |
| 30-60k | 5,528 | 17.0% |
| 60-90k | 9,029 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 8,346 | 21.6% |
| 120-150k | 5,398 | 21.4% |
| 150k+ | 8,849 | 19.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,560 | 17.5% |
| 2022 | 7,813 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 7,808 | 19.9% |
| 2024 | 7,708 | 20.4% |
| 2025 | 7,633 | 20.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Vito
On a 2016 Vito, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.3% 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.
- Brakes (8.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2016 Mercedes-Benz Vitos pass their MOT?
80.3% of the 38,522 2016 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Mercedes-Benz Vito?
Suspension, recorded in 8.3% of tests, followed by brakes (8.3%).
Does the 2016 Vito get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.3% in the 0-30k band to 19.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 38,522 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.