Used car guide

2014 Mercedes-Benz Viano: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2014 Mercedes-Benz Vianos, from 622 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

622MOT tests in 2025
67%pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%)
12,200typical miles a year
7.6×the usual rate for side repeaters

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2014 Mercedes-Benz Vianos than on all cars registered in 2014.

  • Side repeaters7.6× usual
    Mercedes-Benz Viano
    6.8% All 2014 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 0.6% of all 2014 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.

  • Exhaust system2.6× usual
    Mercedes-Benz Viano
    9.5% All 2014 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 1% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes10.6× usual
    Mercedes-Benz Viano
    5.3% All 2014 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.1% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

By area

The share of 2014 Mercedes-Benz Viano MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    31% 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.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    25% 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
    25% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    12% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2013627Brakes 27%
2012553Tyres 29%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2014 Mercedes-Benz Vianos registered in 2014. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score