Used car guide

2023 Mercedes-Benz V: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2023 Mercedes-Benz Vs, from 383 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 383 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

383MOT tests in 2025
91%pass first time (all 2023 cars: 92%)
9,900typical miles a year
7.8×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2023 Mercedes-Benz Vs than on all cars registered in 2023.

  • Shock absorbers7.8× usual
    Mercedes-Benz V
    8.6% All 2023 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 0.2% of all 2023 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 2023 Mercedes-Benz V MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    19% 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
    11% 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
    10% 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
    4% 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
    1% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Steering
    1% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022621Tyres 21%
2021579Tyres 25%
2020933Tyres 27%
20192,899Tyres 22%
20182,400Tyres 22%
20172,242Tyres 23%
20161,497Tyres 25%
2015879Tyres 24%
2002105Suspension 46%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2023 Mercedes-Benz Vs registered in 2023. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score