Mercedes-benz Citan Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Mercedes-benz Citan car check
Is the Mercedes-benz Citan reliable? We analysed 181,008 real MOT tests across 20,573 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Mercedes-benz Citan? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Mercedes-benz Citan is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes-benz Citan.
Mercedes-benz Citan Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Mercedes-benz Citan. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Mercedes-benz Citan MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Mercedes-benz Citan to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Mercedes-benz Citan Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Mercedes-benz Citan models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Mercedes-benz Citan Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Mercedes-benz Citan owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Mercedes-benz Citan MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes-benz Citan year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 72 | 80.6% | 30,210 | 55,675 | 80,801 |
| 2019 | 10,381 | 76.2% | 45,100 | 67,569 | 96,754 |
| 2018 | 25,752 | 74.4% | 46,025 | 68,442 | 95,207 |
| 2017 | 29,187 | 75.1% | 51,003 | 75,656 | 105,440 |
| 2016 | 33,781 | 73.7% | 53,459 | 79,123 | 109,656 |
| 2015 | 28,112 | 74.4% | 54,258 | 81,908 | 116,308 |
| 2014 | 29,407 | 71.9% | 59,686 | 89,036 | 122,992 |
| 2013 | 23,190 | 71.4% | 64,572 | 94,499 | 130,390 |
How Long Does a Mercedes-benz Citan Last?
Based on 20,573 Mercedes-benz Citan vehicles on UK roads.
Mercedes-benz Citan Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes-benz Citan MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Mercedes-benz Citan
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
80.6% MOT pass rate from 72 tests
71.4% MOT pass rate from 23,190 tests
The best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz Citan is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.6% across 72 tests. The 2013 model year has the lowest pass rate at 71.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Mercedes-benz Citan Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-benz Citan THIS CAR | 73.7% | 181,008 | 79,993 mi | 13 yrs |
| Mercedes-benz C | 77.6% | 8,031,355 | 77,082 mi | 32 yrs |
| Mercedes-benz E | 79.4% | 4,722,746 | 83,960 mi | 33 yrs |
| Mercedes-benz A-class | 77.6% | 4,204,702 | 57,023 mi | 28 yrs |
| Porsche Panamera | 89% | 63,443 | 48,711 mi | 17 yrs |
Compared to the Mercedes-benz C (77.6% pass rate) and the Mercedes-benz E (79.4% pass rate), the Mercedes-benz Citan trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Mercedes-benz Citan you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Mercedes-benz CitanShould you buy a used Mercedes-benz Citan?
The Mercedes-benz Citan has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.7% across 181,008 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Mercedes-benz Citan with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Mercedes-benz Citan owner drives around 9,487 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Mercedes-benz Citan models stay on UK roads for around 13 years. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.