Used car guide

2012 Mercedes-Benz Viano: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Mercedes-Benz Vianos, from 553 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

553MOT tests in 2025
67%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
11,300typical miles a year
5.9×the usual rate for side repeaters

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Mercedes-Benz Vianos than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Side repeaters5.9× usual
    Mercedes-Benz Viano
    7.1% All 2012 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 0.8% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

  • Windscreen2.2× usual
    Mercedes-Benz Viano
    6.7% All 2012 cars
    3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check for chips or cracks in the driver's view.

  • Individual direction indicators2.2× usual
    Mercedes-Benz Viano
    6.7% All 2012 cars
    3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 1.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

By area

The share of 2012 Mercedes-Benz Viano MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    29% 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
    28% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    28% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    26% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    11% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    11% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2014622Brakes 31%
2013627Brakes 27%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Mercedes-Benz Vianos registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score