Reliability report
Mercedes-Benz Viano reliability and common faults
Based on 9,998 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
27.4%
fail rate · average 30.9%
much better than average
4,650 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
60.2%
with defects · average 57.1%
worse than average
2,656 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
56.1%
first-time pass · average 52.9%
better than average
2,692 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Mercedes-Benz Viano
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Seat belts and airbagsconfirmed in 2 countries
Exhaust and emissions
Body and structure
Wheels
Brakes
Plates and identificationconfirmed in 2 countries
Lights and electrics
Steering
Suspension
Tyres
Visibility
Most common test failures
- 1Airbag / seatbelt system warning light indicates a fault
- 2Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 3Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 4Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 5Tyre insufficient tread
- 6Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 7Spring broken or cracked
- 8Particulate filter not working properly, particle count exceeds limit
- 9Turn signal color incorrect/not allowed
- 10Exhaust system not gas-tight / unsafe exhaust gas discharge
- 11Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 12Tyre damaged
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 9–11 years | 27.4% avg 22.9% | 55.3% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 27.3% avg 30.3% | 59.5% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | 27.6% avg 34.6% | 63.1% avg 64.7% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | Viano | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 53.6% | 68.0% | 69 |
| 2013 | 65.5% | 65.9% | 139 |
| 2012 | 59.6% | 63.7% | 193 |
| 2011 | 58.7% | 61.2% | 271 |
| 2010 | 64.4% | 57.3% | 135 |
| 2009 | 55.6% | 54.5% | 135 |
| 2008 | 56.7% | 52.4% | 247 |
| 2007 | 52.0% | 50.6% | 444 |
| 2006 | 54.5% | 48.7% | 321 |
| 2005 | 50.9% | 46.6% | 336 |
| 2004 | 56.6% | 44.5% | 380 |
Mercedes-Benz Viano – FAQs
How reliable is the Mercedes-Benz Viano?+
In the UK the Mercedes-Benz Viano fails 27.4% of MOT tests, against an average of 30.9% for cars of the same age – much better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 60.2% of APK inspections (average there 57.1%) – worse than average. In Lithuania 56.1% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 52.9%) – better than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Mercedes-Benz Viano?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: seat belts and airbags, exhaust and emissions, body and structure, wheels.
What should I check when buying a used Mercedes-Benz Viano?+
The most common inspection failures: Airbag / seatbelt system warning light indicates a fault; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Low beam incorrectly adjusted; Excessive leakage of other fluids; Tyre insufficient tread. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Mercedes-Benz models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: © M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, Wikimedia Commons (licence).