Mercedes Viano Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Mercedes Viano fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 11,348 MOT tests across 12 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: premium performance | Fuel: Diesel, Petrol, LPG
79%
Mercedes Viano pass rate
87%
Mercedes average
82%
All-model average
The Mercedes Viano has an average MOT pass rate of 79%, which is 8 points below the Mercedes average and 3 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Mercedes Vianos pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 5 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Mercedes Viano Fails Its MOT On
Of the 1,718 MOT tests on the Mercedes Viano that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
51%Cars and vans the same age: 45% · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
33%Cars and vans the same age: 25% (the Viano fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£450
Suspension
28%Cars and vans the same age: 39% (the Viano fails on this less often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Tyres
16%Cars and vans the same age: 18% · Typical repair £50-£300
Body, chassis and structure
14%Cars and vans the same age: 15% · Typical repair £200-£1200
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Parking brake efficiency below requirements (10% of failed tests, brakes)
- Position lamp: not working (10% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Side repeaters: not working (8.8% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Mercedes Viano Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Viano year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Mercedes Viano Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Diesel | 2.1L | 83% | 17% | - |
| 2014 | Diesel | 3.0L | 83% | 17% | 82% (+1) |
| 2013 | Diesel | 2.1L | 81% | 19% | 80% (+1) |
| 2012 | Petrol | 3.0L | 79% | 20% | 79% (0) |
| 2011 | Diesel | 0.0L | 82% | 17% | 77% (+5) |
| 2010 | Petrol | 2.1L | 82% | 17% | - |
| 2009 | Diesel | 3.0L | 78% | 22% | - |
| 2008 | Diesel | 3.0L | 78% | 22% | 74% (+4) |
| 2007 | LPG | 3.2L | 78% | 22% | - |
| 2006 | Petrol | 3.2L | 74% | 25% | - |
| 2005 | Petrol | 3.5L | 75% | 24% | - |
| 2004 | Petrol | 3.5L | 77% | 22% | - |
Mercedes Viano Running Costs
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Mercedes Viano FAQ
What are the most common Mercedes Viano problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Mercedes Viano that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (51% of the 1,718 failed tests), brakes (33%) and suspension (28%). The single most common fault was "Parking brake efficiency below requirements" (10%). Across 11,348 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 79% ended in a pass.
Is the Mercedes Viano reliable?
The Mercedes Viano has an average MOT pass rate of 79%, from 11,348 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 2 points of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Mercedes Viano years should I avoid?
No Mercedes Viano year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). The years that passed most often for their age were the 2011 (82% of 1,160 tests passed, against 77% for all 2011 cars) and the 2008 (78% of 1,044 tests passed, against 74% for all 2008 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Mercedes Viano faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Mercedes Viano typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Mercedes Models
Common problems pages for other Mercedes models