Used car guide

2020 Mercedes-Benz V: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2020 Mercedes-Benz Vs, from 933 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

933MOT tests in 2025
83%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%)
12,200typical miles a year
3.6×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2020 Mercedes-Benz Vs than on all cars registered in 2020.

  • Shock absorbers3.6× usual
    Mercedes-Benz V
    7.1% All 2020 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.3% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

By area

The share of 2020 Mercedes-Benz V MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    27% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    15% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    9% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Lights and electrics
    2% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    1% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022621Tyres 21%
2021579Tyres 25%
20192,899Tyres 22%
20182,400Tyres 22%
20172,242Tyres 23%
20161,497Tyres 25%
2015879Tyres 24%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2020 Mercedes-Benz Vs registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score