Mercedes-benz V220 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Mercedes-benz V220 car check
Is the Mercedes-benz V220 reliable? We analysed 1,259 real MOT tests across 114 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Mercedes-benz V220? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Mercedes-benz V220 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes-benz V220.
Mercedes-benz V220 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Mercedes-benz V220. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Mercedes-benz V220 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Mercedes-benz V220 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Mercedes-benz V220 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Mercedes-benz V220 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Mercedes-benz V220 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Mercedes-benz V220 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Mercedes-benz V220 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Mercedes-benz V220 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Mercedes-benz V220 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes-benz V220 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 74 | 89.2% | 46,274 | 93,828 | 154,331 |
| 2016 | 421 | 90.0% | 52,036 | 94,802 | 150,279 |
| 2015 | 686 | 89.8% | 57,658 | 92,918 | 155,226 |
How Long Does a Mercedes-benz V220 Last?
Based on 114 Mercedes-benz V220 vehicles on UK roads.
Mercedes-benz V220 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes-benz V220 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 V220
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
90.0% MOT pass rate from 421 tests
89.2% MOT pass rate from 74 tests
The best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz V220 is 2016, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.0% across 421 tests. The 2017 model year has the lowest pass rate at 89.2% — 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 V220 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-benz V220 THIS CAR | 88.7% | 1,259 | 91,806 mi | 11 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 |
| BMW R 1250 RS SE | 96.9% | 1,038 | 9,460 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Mercedes-benz C (77.6% pass rate) and the Mercedes-benz E (79.4% pass rate), the Mercedes-benz V220 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Mercedes-benz V220 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 V220Should you buy a used Mercedes-benz V220?
The Mercedes-benz V220 has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.7% across 1,259 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 V220 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (6 recorded failures), vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (5), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (4). 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 V220 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 V220 owner drives around 19,535 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 V220 models stay on UK roads for around 11 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.