2006 Mercedes-Benz Vito — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 26,552 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz Vito, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 71.9% was above the average for vans of a similar age (70.5%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.0% | 5,048 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.3% | 4,062 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.0% | 3,711 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 2,091 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.1% | 1,892 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.2% | 1,384 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 2,189 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 1,937 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,860 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 1,723 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,539 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,484 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 44.7% | 11,864 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.5% | 7,310 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.3% | 6,973 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.7% | 5,753 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.5% | 4,905 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.2% | 3,771 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 275 | 29.1% |
| 30-60k | 408 | 21.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,331 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 3,408 | 27.1% |
| 120-150k | 5,280 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 15,533 | 28.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 26,480 | 28.1% |
| Petrol | 72 | 23.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,531 | 28.2% |
| 2022 | 6,096 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 5,452 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 4,638 | 27.7% |
| 2025 | 3,835 | 27.6% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Vito
Before buying a 2006 Mercedes-Benz Vito, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 19.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (19.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (15.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (14.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2006 Mercedes-Benz Vitos pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 26,552 2006 Mercedes-Benz Vito MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Mercedes-Benz Vito?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.0% of tests, followed by brakes (15.3%).
Does the 2006 Vito get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.1% in the 0-30k band to 28.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 26,552 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.