Used car guide · 1997–2026

Mercedes-Benz V-Class common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Mercedes-Benz V-Class, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 36,502 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

36,502MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
16,338on the UK register
2015best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152003200220012000199919981997

What usually goes wrong with a Mercedes-Benz V-Class?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Mercedes-Benz V-Class in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Shock absorbers

    up to 7.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

    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.

  • Ball joint

    up to 4.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Coil springs

    up to 3.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2015 Mercedes-Benz V-Class did best (79% passed first time, 5 points above all 2015 cars) and the 2021 did worst (83%, 4 points below all 2021 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202392%92% +0682
202287%89% -2801
202183%87% -41,241
202083%87% -42,706
201985%85% +08,687
201882%83% -17,272
201780%80% +06,726
201680%77% +34,500
201579%74% +52,720
200351%57% -6193 (small sample)
200258%58% +0343 (small sample)
200162%60% +2169 (small sample)
200055%61% -6143 (small sample)
199959%63% -4182 (small sample)
199851%65% -14137 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Mercedes-Benz V-Class

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 7.8× as often on the Mercedes-Benz V-Class as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 4.5× as often on the Mercedes-Benz V-Class as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the Mercedes-Benz V-Class as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz V-Class?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score