2019 Mercedes-Benz Vito — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 43,101 MOT tests analysed for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Vito, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 84.4% was in line with the average for vans of a similar age (85.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 17.6% in the 150k+ group versus 9.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 6.2% | 2,652 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 2,590 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.7% | 2,454 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.7% | 2,013 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.8% | 1,642 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 1,093 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,653 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,210 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,200 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 1,135 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 1,053 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,035 |
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 | 19.2% | 8,289 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.4% | 7,071 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.7% | 2,901 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.3% | 2,727 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.2% | 1,797 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 1,332 |
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 | 4,053 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 12,165 | 15.1% |
| 60-90k | 11,207 | 16.6% |
| 90-120k | 6,826 | 16.4% |
| 120-150k | 4,001 | 16.5% |
| 150k+ | 4,841 | 17.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 42,961 | 15.6% |
| Electric | 139 | 7.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,960 | 6.9% |
| 2022 | 10,214 | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 10,386 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 10,248 | 15.9% |
| 2025 | 10,293 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Vito
Before buying a 2019 Mercedes-Benz Vito, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 6.2% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (6.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2019 Mercedes-Benz Vitos pass their MOT?
84.4% of the 43,101 2019 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Mercedes-Benz Vito?
Brakes, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.0%).
Does the 2019 Vito get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 17.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 43,101 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.