2025 MOT results
Mercedes-Benz V-Class common problems
The most common reason a Mercedes-Benz V-Class fails its MOT is a broken coil spring, on 17.3% of its 2,451 failed tests in 2025. Against other cars of the same age, 7 faults stand out, the widest gaps being: a worn steering or suspension joint at 11.1% of failures against 3.1% expected; a broken coil spring at 17.3% of failures against 6.4% expected; a weak handbrake at 3.7% of failures against 1.8% expected.
- Tests in 2025 12,964 Cars aged three and over
- Failed first time 18.9% 2,451 tests
- Found a dangerous defect 7.3% Unsafe to drive away
- Ended with an advisory 34.9% A problem to watch, not a failure
What fails a Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT
Each bar is the share of failed Mercedes-Benz V-Class tests with that defect. Where we can compare it with cars of the same registration years, the marker shows what an average car of those ages records (11 of the 12 items below).
Most common reasons for failure
A test can fail for more than one defect, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension | 17.3% |
| Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres | 11.3% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension | 11.1% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 10.4% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.5% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 7.1% |
| Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 6.9% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes | 6.1% |
| Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value Brakes | 4.4% |
| Tyres: bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Tyres | 4.0% |
| Shock absorbers: serious fluid leak Suspension | 3.8% |
| Parking brake efficiency below requirements Brakes | 3.7% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
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Broken coil spring
17.3% of failures 6.4% expected 2.7 times as often
A broken suspension spring, which usually snaps in the bottom coil and often fails on both sides within a year.
Look at each corner for a sagging ride height, and listen for a knock over speed bumps.
-
Tyre worn through to the cords
11.3% of failures 5.8% expected 1.9 times as often
The tyre is worn or damaged far enough to expose the cords underneath, which is a dangerous defect.
Run a hand round the inner and outer walls of each tyre, which is where kerbing shows.
-
Worn steering or suspension joint
11.1% of failures 3.1% expected 3.6 times as often
Play in a steering or suspension joint, where a worn ball and socket lets the wheel move where it should not.
A knock at low speed over rough ground, or vague steering, is the usual warning.
-
Tyre worn below the legal limit
10.4% of failures 10.0% expected about as expected
A tyre worn past the 1.6mm legal minimum across the middle three quarters of the tread.
A 20p coin in the main grooves: if the outer band of the coin is visible, the tyre is close to the limit.
-
Engine management light on
7.5% of failures 5.0% expected 1.5 times as often
The engine management light is on, or has been disconnected. Either fails the test.
A cheap code reader on the diagnostic socket will say what the car has stored before you pay for a test.
-
Wiper blades that do not clear the screen
7.1% of failures 8.7% expected somewhat less often
Wiper blades that leave the windscreen smeared or streaked across the area the driver looks through.
Look for split or hardened rubber, and lift each blade to see whether it still sits flat.
Which parts of the car fail
Suspension is the area that most often fails a Mercedes-Benz V-Class, on 37.2% of failed tests. That is also where it differs most from cars of the same registration years, which record 20.5%.
Failure categories
DVSA's own sections of the test. The marker is what cars of the same registration years record.
| Defect category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 37.2% |
| Tyres | 34.7% |
| Brakes | 21.3% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12.3% |
| Visibility | 12.3% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.1% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 5.8% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 3.9% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What testers warn about
34.9% of Mercedes-Benz V-Class tests ended with at least one advisory: a fault the tester found that did not fail the test. On Mercedes-Benz V-Classes, these are the items to ask about on a car you are viewing, because they are what the last tester expected to go next.
Most common advisories
Share of all tests, passes included.
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 17.1% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 5.3% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 5.2% |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes | 4.2% |
| Shock absorbers: light misting of oil Suspension | 3.8% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension | 2.1% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 1.6% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.5% |
| Tyres: cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 1.3% |
| Play in steering rack inner joint(s) Non-component advisories | 1.1% |
| Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt Non-component advisories | 1.1% |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle | 1.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Mercedes-Benz V-Class problems: common questions
What is the most common problem with a Mercedes-Benz V-Class?
Of the faults that fail an MOT, “Coil spring: fractured or broken” is the most common: it appears on 17.3% of failed Mercedes-Benz V-Class tests. Across categories, suspension is the area that most often fails one, on 37.2% of failed tests.
How often does a Mercedes-Benz V-Class fail its MOT?
18.9% of Mercedes-Benz V-Class tests in 2025 were not passed first time, from 12,964 tests of cars aged three and over. Allowing for the age and mileage of the cars tested, that gives it a UK Motoring Reliability Score of 49 out of 100, where 50 is as expected.
Does anything fail more often on a Mercedes-Benz V-Class than on other cars?
Yes. “Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn” appears on 11.1% of its failures against 3.1% for cars of the same age, and “Coil spring: fractured or broken” appears on 17.3% of its failures against 6.4% for cars of the same age. Where an item is missing from the national figures for a year, we use the smallest share those figures show, so the comparison never overstates the difference.
Are these the same as breakdowns or known faults?
No. These are the items a tester recorded at the MOT, which covers condition and safety: lamps, brakes, tyres, suspension, corrosion and emissions. A gearbox that is unpleasant, an infotainment screen that has died, or a car that will not start on a cold morning are not part of the test, so they are not in these figures.
Where do the figures come from?
Every normal MOT test of a Mercedes-Benz V-Class aged three and over in Great Britain in 2025, from DVSA's anonymised MOT results. Retests are excluded, and the same fault on more than one wheel counts once.
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT defects and advisories | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 12,964 MOT tests | 19 September 2026 |
- Shares for defects are of failed tests; shares for advisories are of all tests. A test can carry several defects, so shares add to more than 100%.
- The expected share is what an average car of the same registration years records, weighted by where this model’s failures fall. Where an item is outside the national figures for a year, the smallest share those figures show is used in its place, which is an upper bound, so the comparison never overstates a model’s problems. No expectation is published where less than 80% of the model’s failures can be compared.
- Great Britain only: DVSA does not run MOT testing in Northern Ireland. Cars under three years old are not tested.
- The descriptions of what each part does are general and the same on every model. Every figure comes from the MOT data.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.