CarVerify

Mercedes-benz Traveliner Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Mercedes-benz Traveliner car check

Is the Mercedes-benz Traveliner reliable? We analysed 3,503 real MOT tests across 239 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Mercedes-benz Traveliner? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 3,503 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
77.0%
Typical Mileage
124,551mi
Annual Mileage
13,011mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Mercedes-benz Traveliner is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, brake pipe excessively corroded and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes-benz Traveliner.

Mercedes-benz Traveliner Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Mercedes-benz Traveliner. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Mercedes-benz Traveliner MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Mercedes-benz Traveliner to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

82.2%
2014
84.7%
2013
77.9%
2012
75.1%
2011
77.4%
2010
72%
2009
73.3%
2008
75.6%
2007
82.4%
2006
72.9%
2004
77.2%
2003
76.1%
2002
72%
1997

Mercedes-benz Traveliner Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Mercedes-benz Traveliner fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 50
Brake pipe excessively corroded 33
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 33
Registration plate lamp not working 27
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 23

Mercedes-benz Traveliner Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Mercedes-benz Traveliner models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 30
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value 27

Mercedes-benz Traveliner Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Mercedes-benz Traveliner owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,263 mi/yr
Typical
13,011 mi/yr
Average
19,418 mi/yr
Heavy usage
28,290 mi/yr

Mercedes-benz Traveliner MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes-benz Traveliner year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2014 129 82.2% 93,109 176,709 245,714
2013 236 84.7% 83,726 155,318 285,184
2012 970 77.9% 86,270 154,249 236,897
2011 615 75.1% 74,071 133,536 214,472
2010 279 77.4% 59,536 146,001 267,639
2009 93 72.0% 63,985 109,636 183,345
2008 131 73.3% 38,950 65,449 144,176
2007 156 75.6% 51,508 90,123 132,844
2006 153 82.4% 30,980 50,669 98,235
2004 133 72.9% 42,996 92,615 115,498
2003 180 77.2% 41,035 72,726 135,578
2002 109 76.1% 48,406 59,988 177,953
1997 50 72.0% 111,390 136,414 151,500

How Long Does a Mercedes-benz Traveliner Last?

Based on 239 Mercedes-benz Traveliner vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.2 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Mercedes-benz Traveliner Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes-benz Traveliner MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
124,551 mi
75th Percentile
206,806 mi
95th Percentile
376,315 mi
Max Recorded
696,869 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mercedes-benz Traveliner

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2013

84.7% MOT pass rate from 236 tests

Year to avoid
1997

72.0% MOT pass rate from 50 tests

The best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz Traveliner is 2013, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.7% across 236 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.0% — 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 Traveliner Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mercedes-benz Traveliner THIS CAR 77.0% 3,503 124,551 mi 29 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
Kia Mentor Glx 59% 1,384 77,935 mi 32 yrs

Compared to the Mercedes-benz C (77.6% pass rate) and the Mercedes-benz E (79.4% pass rate), the Mercedes-benz Traveliner trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a Mercedes-benz Traveliner 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 Traveliner

Should you buy a used Mercedes-benz Traveliner?

The Mercedes-benz Traveliner has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.0% across 3,503 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Mercedes-benz Traveliner are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (50 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (33), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (33). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

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 Traveliner 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 Traveliner owner drives around 13,011 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 Traveliner models stay on UK roads for around 29 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. 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.

Mercedes-benz Traveliner — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mercedes-benz Traveliner reliable?
Based on 3,503 MOT tests, the Mercedes-benz Traveliner has a 77.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Mercedes-benz Traveliner?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, brake pipe excessively corroded, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Mercedes-benz Traveliner do per year?
The typical Mercedes-benz Traveliner does around 13,011 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mercedes-benz Traveliner last?
Most Mercedes-benz Traveliner models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 239 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mercedes-benz Traveliner?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Mercedes-benz Traveliner?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz Traveliner is 2013 with a 84.7% pass rate across 236 tests.