Car statistics by year

2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Class

Mercedes-Benz V-Class cars first registered in 2018: how they did at their 2025 MOT, what failed them, how far they have been driven and how many are still on the road. Compared with every car first registered in 2018, so like is set against like.

A year of the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. “2018” is the year of first registration.

Last updated
Records analysed
2,402 MOT tests of 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Class cars
Methodology
View methodology
  • MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 82.6% All 2018 cars 81.8%
  • Typical mileage at the MOT 79,700 miles; all 2018 cars 50,000
  • Left at the end of 2025 1,985 96.6% of the 2,055 at the end of 2018
  • Tests finding a dangerous defect 6.8% All 2018 cars 5.8%
  • Tests with an advisory 31.0% All 2018 cars 43.2%
  • MOT tests in 2025 2,402 normal tests in Great Britain

How do 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Classes do at their MOT?

In 2025, at about 7 years old, 82.6% of 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT tests were passed first time, against 81.8% for all cars first registered in 2018. 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Classes did about as well as average for their age. A year earlier the same cars passed 80.8% of the time (all 2018 cars 83.4%).

MOT pass rate by year of first registration: Mercedes-Benz V-Class vs all cars

Each pair of bars is one year of first registration, tested in 2025. Older cars pass less often, so compare each Mercedes-Benz V-Class bar with the all-cars bar beside it.

MOT first-time pass rate in 2025 by year of first registration, Mercedes-Benz V-Class compared with all cars
First registered Mercedes-Benz V-ClassAll cars
’15 80.3%72.6%
’16 79.4%75.6%
’17 78.5%79.1%
’18 82.6%81.8%
’19 84.5%84.4%
’20 82.6%86.9%
’21 83.5%88.4%
’22 84.4%89.4%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT failures on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Class

Coil spring: fractured or broken was the most common single reason a 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Class failed, on 28.3% of about 400 failed tests. By area of the car, suspension failed most often (44.4% of failed tests; all 2018 cars 18.2%). 6.8% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 5.8% for all cars first registered in 2018. A failed test can have several defects, so shares add up to more than 100%.

Most common reasons for failure

Share of failed tests with each defect. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.

Most common specific MOT defects on failed 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Class tests, 2025
Defect Share of failed tests
Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension 28.3%
Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension 11.5%
Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres 11.5%
Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres 10.3%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks 9.8%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes 8.6%
Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres 5.5%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility 5.5%
Parking brake efficiency below requirements Brakes 3.8%
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value Brakes 3.8%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Failure categories: Mercedes-Benz V-Class vs all 2018 cars

The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.

Share of failed 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT tests with a defect in each category, with all 2018 cars for comparison
Category Share of failed tests
Suspension 44.4%
Tyres 32.6%
Brakes 21.6%
Noise, emissions and leaks 11.3%
Visibility 9.8%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 7.2%
Body, chassis, structure 5.5%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems 2.2%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT advisories on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Class

An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 31.0% of 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Class tests had at least one (all 2018 cars 43.2%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.

Most common advisories

Most common MOT advisories on 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Class tests, 2025
Advisory Share of tests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres 16.7%
Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes 4.6%
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes 4.3%
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes 4.2%
Shock absorbers: light misting of oil Suspension 2.8%
Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension 1.4%
Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres 1.3%
Tyres: cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres 1.2%
Play in steering rack inner joint(s) Non-component advisories 0.7%
Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle 0.7%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

What mileage is normal for a 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Class?

Half of the 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 79,700 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 47,900 and a quarter more than 133,500. For all cars first registered in 2018, the middle figure was 50,000 miles, so 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Classes have been driven 59.4% further than average.

Mileage at the 2025 MOT

Odometer readings at each car’s latest MOT of the year. The bar covers the middle half of cars; the line the middle 80%.

Odometer readings at the 2025 MOT, 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Class and all 2018 cars, by percentile
10% 25% Median 75% 90% Cars
2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Class 31,900 47,900 79,700 133,500 202,100 1,927
All 2018 cars 24,300 35,700 50,000 66,600 85,300 2,108,837
miles

Half of the 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Classes tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 79,700 miles.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

How many 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Classes are left?

At the end of 2018, 2,055 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Classes were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2025, 1,985 were: 1,937 licensed and 48 declared off the road (SORN). That is 96.6% still on the record, against 96.1% for all cars first registered in 2018.

Share still on the record since 2018

Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2018. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.

2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Classes on the DVLA record at each year end as a share of the number at the end of 2018, compared with all 2018 cars
Year end 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-ClassAll 2018 cars
2018 100.0%100.0%
2019 94.4%99.9%
2020 96.0%98.2%
2021 98.6%95.9%
2022 97.8%97.2%
2023 98.0%97.0%
2024 98.0%96.7%
2025 96.6%96.1%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated

Recalls that may affect cars built around 2018

9 of the Mercedes-Benz V-Class’s 38 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2018. 4 have no build dates, so could apply to any year.

The 2018 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2018 may have been built in 2017, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.

Mercedes-Benz V-Class recalls whose build dates include 2018
Launched Concern Built Vehicles
9 May 2022 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 17 May 2016 to 30 Sept 2020 79
13 Sept 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 17 May 2016 to 1 Jul 2020 4,897
6 Jul 2021 The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications 31 Aug 2016 to 30 Jun 2020 3,063
6 Oct 2020 The engine control unit software needs to be updated 24 Nov 2014 to 2 Oct 2018 476
6 Oct 2020 Engine control unit software to be updated 5 Dec 2014 to 3 Jun 2019 2,620
30 Jul 2019 Possible severe corrosion of metal components in the rear area of the roof bed 16 Jan 2017 to 21 Sept 2018 576 (all models)
9 Jan 2019 To improve the emissions of our vehicle as quickly and effectively as possible via software updates to certain vehicles from model series V class (447.8) 9 Sept 2015 to 15 Jun 2018 4,626
14 Nov 2018 Airbag off indicator lamp does not light up if front passenger seat is recognised as being unoccupied 1 Nov 2013 to 23 Apr 2018 5,870
17 May 2018 Front door handles may not be installed correctly 16 Feb 2018 to 17 Feb 2018 3

Every Mercedes-Benz V-Class recall · Check a specific car on GOV.UK · How we match recalls

Recall details come from manufacturers through DVSA. “Vehicles” is the number the manufacturer reported; “all models” means the figure covers everything in the recall. A recall listed here may not apply to a particular car: only the manufacturer or GOV.UK can say for its VIN.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis January 1992 to September 2026 Updated

Other years of the Mercedes-Benz V-Class

8 years of the Mercedes-Benz V-Class, by year of first registration, have their own page with MOT results, common faults, mileage and how many are left. Against all cars of the same age, the 2015 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (80.3% passed first time) and the 2022 cars worst (84.4%).

Mercedes-Benz V-Classes by year of first registration
Year Registered Left Pass rate All cars
2015 1,100 922 80.3% 72.6%
2016 1,530 1,352 79.4% 75.6%
2017 1,959 1,919 78.5% 79.1%
2018 2,055 1,985 82.6% 81.8%
2019 2,149 2,182 84.5% 84.4%
2020 827 798 82.6% 86.9%
2021 499 465 83.5% 88.4%
2022 579 557 84.4% 89.4%

Registered: cars on the DVLA record at the end of the year they were first registered. Left: licensed or declared SORN at the end of 2025. Both cover the United Kingdom. Pass rate: first-time passes at normal MOT tests in Great Britain in 2025; all cars: every car first registered the same year.

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures Source Period Records Updated
MOT results and mileage Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Derived statistics UK Motoring
2025 2,402 MOT tests of 2018 Mercedes-Benz V-Class cars 15 September 2026
Cars on the record Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of 2025 1,985 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) 15 September 2026
  • MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Mercedes-Benz V-Class cars first registered in 2018; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2018.
  • Year of first registration is DVSA’s first-use date: when the car was first registered, in the UK or abroad.
  • Defects and advisories are DVSA’s descriptions made readable. Where on the car a defect was found (side, front or rear) is ignored, so the same fault on any wheel counts once per test.
  • Mileage is the odometer reading at each car’s latest normal MOT of the year, as recorded by the tester. A few readings are in kilometres or mistyped; percentiles are not thrown by a handful of outliers.
  • Cars on the record come from DfT table VEH0124 and cover the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland; MOT figures cover Great Britain only.
  • DVSA records the model name typed in at the test. We match those names to DVLA’s generic models, so a handful of tests may be counted under a close relative.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.