2020 Mercedes-Benz Vito — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,014 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Vito, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 84.8% was in line with the average for vans of a similar age (85.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 18.4% in the 150k+ group versus 8.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.3% | 698 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.7% | 625 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 613 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.7% | 522 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.7% | 404 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 133 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 460 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 307 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 296 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 289 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 253 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 235 |
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 | 19.6% | 2,158 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.1% | 1,660 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.2% | 1,012 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.8% | 752 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.3% | 469 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 118 |
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 | 1,706 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 3,685 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,871 | 17.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,401 | 17.9% |
| 120-150k | 664 | 19.9% |
| 150k+ | 685 | 18.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,874 | 15.2% |
| Electric | 137 | 12.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 135 | 4.4% |
| 2022 | 287 | 8.4% |
| 2023 | 3,440 | 14.4% |
| 2024 | 3,578 | 16.1% |
| 2025 | 3,574 | 16.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Vito
Before buying a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Vito, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.3% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (6.3% 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.
- Brakes (5.7% 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 (5.6% 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 2020 Mercedes-Benz Vitos pass their MOT?
84.8% of the 11,014 2020 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Vito?
Tyres, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by brakes (5.7%).
Does the 2020 Vito get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 18.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,014 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.