2021 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 76.9% of Mercedes-Benz Vitos first used in 2021 passed their MOT first time, against 87.2% for all cars first used in 2021. Across 10,957 Vito first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, tyres and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen).

This page analyses first MOT tests for Mercedes-Benz Vitos first used in 2021 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
76.9%
of 5,117 first tests; all cars first used in 2021: 87.2%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
10,957
first tests, 2023–2025; 5,117 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
51.3%
of 5,117 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
62,500
middle half: 41,500–92,000 miles; all cars first used in 2021: 32,000

How the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Vitos first used in 2021 against all cars first used in 2021 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Vito figure was 10.3 points lower.

2021 VitoAll cars first used in 2021
70%80%90%100%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2021, test year 2021: 82.9%All cars first used in 2021, test year 2022: 89.9%All cars first used in 2021, test year 2023: 90.8%All cars first used in 2021, test year 2024: 87.6%All cars first used in 2021, test year 2025: 87.2%2021 Vito, test year 2023: 89.6%2021 Vito, test year 2024: 79.2%2021 Vito, test year 2025: 76.9%87.2%76.9%
View this chart as a table
Test year2021 VitoAll cars first used 2021Vito first tests
2021fewer than 500 tests82.9%118
2022fewer than 500 tests89.9%390
202389.6%90.8%625
202479.2%87.6%5,215
202576.9%87.2%5,117

Common 2021 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT failures

Share of the 2,330 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment33.5%
Tyres29.5%
Visibility28.5%
Brakes27.0%
Suspension11.1%
Noise, emissions and leaks9.9%
Body, chassis, structure4.3%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems2.1%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively19.4%453
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam9.8%228
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords9.7%227
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.6%223
Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative7.8%181

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2021 Mercedes-Benz Vito before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  3. Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.

Common 2021 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2021 Vitos, as a share of all 10,957 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge12.0%1,315
Brake pads: wearing thin6.9%758
Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil5.4%596
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened4.5%498
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively3.1%335

Questions about the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2021 Mercedes-Benz Vito?

In 2025, 76.9% of Vitos first used in 2021 passed their MOT first time, against 87.2% for all cars first used in 2021. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2021 Vito most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 33.5% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), tyres (29.5%) and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (28.5%). The single most common item was “Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively” (19.4%).

How often does a 2021 Mercedes-Benz Vito fail its MOT?

In 2025, 23.1% of first tests on Vitos first used in 2021 did not pass first time: 17.7% failed, and a further 5.3% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 2,330 of 10,957 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2021 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 12.0% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (6.9%), “Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil” (5.4%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (4.5%) and “Brake discs: worn, but not excessively” (3.1%).

Is a 2021 Mercedes-Benz Vito reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 89.6% in 2023 to 76.9% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2021

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2021 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2021 Ford Transit Custom MOT statistics · 2021 MINI Hatch MOT statistics · 2021 Tesla Model 3 MOT statistics · 2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT statistics

How the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2021 Vito” means a Mercedes-Benz Vito whose date of first use falls in 2021 (70, 21 and 71 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2021, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.