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

Free Mercedes-benz Vito car check

Is the Mercedes-benz Vito reliable? We analysed 2,011,702 real MOT tests across 164,434 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,011,702 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
71.2%
Typical Mileage
109,989mi
Annual Mileage
9,235mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Mercedes-benz Vito is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes-benz Vito.

Mercedes-benz Vito Number Plates

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

Mercedes-benz Vito MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

84.5%
2023
84.4%
2022
83.6%
2021
81.6%
2020
80.8%
2019
80%
2018
80.7%
2017
77.6%
2016
77.6%
2015
77.1%
2014
76.4%
2013
75.3%
2012
73.8%
2011
72.9%
2010
72.5%
2009
71.3%
2008
69.6%
2007
69.6%
2006
68.7%
2005
67.7%
2004

Mercedes-benz Vito Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 49,564
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 46,783
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 43,234
Brake pipe excessively corroded 37,987
Stop lamp not working 33,048
Registration plate lamp not working 32,619
position lamp(s) not working 28,795
parking brake recording little or no effort 27,546
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 26,377

Mercedes-benz Vito Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
5,206 mi/yr
Typical
9,235 mi/yr
Average
12,475 mi/yr
Heavy usage
15,823 mi/yr

Mercedes-benz Vito MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2023 1,117 84.5% 31,171 47,869 75,584
2022 5,858 84.4% 35,260 52,398 77,063
2021 12,416 83.6% 39,005 58,290 87,417
2020 14,409 81.6% 39,502 62,118 92,596
2019 54,382 80.8% 47,120 73,117 110,596
2018 51,745 80.0% 48,253 75,451 114,032
2017 84,530 80.7% 56,453 86,763 129,933
2016 67,786 77.6% 58,552 89,496 131,452
2015 63,125 77.6% 60,871 95,194 142,063
2014 68,318 77.1% 66,916 103,888 151,540
2013 79,788 76.4% 70,624 110,190 162,430
2012 85,921 75.3% 74,090 113,200 165,024
2011 76,988 73.8% 78,827 119,633 168,022
2010 94,476 72.9% 81,413 125,343 180,105
2009 102,178 72.5% 79,196 122,711 174,782
2008 125,531 71.3% 81,358 123,026 170,436
2007 144,897 69.6% 81,100 122,038 168,444
2006 143,116 69.6% 80,433 121,092 167,915
2005 130,665 68.7% 76,187 113,960 156,100
2004 122,455 67.7% 74,252 109,326 149,613

How Long Does a Mercedes-benz Vito Last?

Based on 164,434 Mercedes-benz Vito vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.9 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Mercedes-benz Vito Mileage Distribution

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

Median
109,989 mi
75th Percentile
154,329 mi
95th Percentile
243,843 mi
Max Recorded
4,101,427 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mercedes-benz Vito

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

Best year
2023

84.5% MOT pass rate from 1,117 tests

Year to avoid
1996

60.9% MOT pass rate from 1,616 tests

The best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz Vito is 2023, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.5% across 1,117 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.9% — 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 Vito Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mercedes-benz Vito THIS CAR 71.2% 2,011,702 109,989 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
Hyundai I10 80.4% 2,829,935 35,978 mi 18 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Mercedes-benz Vito?

The Mercedes-benz Vito has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.2% across 2,011,702 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Mercedes-benz Vito are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (49,564 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (46,783), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (43,234). 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.

A typical Mercedes-benz Vito owner drives around 9,235 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 Vito 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 Vito — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mercedes-benz Vito reliable?
Based on 2,011,702 MOT tests, the Mercedes-benz Vito has a 71.2% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Mercedes-benz Vito?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Mercedes-benz Vito do per year?
The typical Mercedes-benz Vito does around 9,235 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mercedes-benz Vito last?
Most Mercedes-benz Vito models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 164,434 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mercedes-benz Vito?
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 Vito?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz Vito is 2023 with a 84.5% pass rate across 1,117 tests.