Does the Mercedes-Benz V-Class fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz V-Class records 4.68 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 6.30 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−1.62, 95% interval −1.83 to −1.40). It ranks 382 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Mercedes-Benz V-Class by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz V-Class is “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”, recorded 320 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 320 | 0.61 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 289 | 0.55 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 285 | 0.54 |
| A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 225 | 0.43 |
| A lens defective which has no effect on emitted light | 151 | 0.29 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 52,659 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Mercedes-Benz V-Class 2015 · Mercedes-Benz V-Class 2016 · Mercedes-Benz V-Class 2017 · Mercedes-Benz V-Class 2018 · Mercedes-Benz V-Class 2019 · Mercedes-Benz V-Class 2020 · Mercedes-Benz V-Class in Norway · Mercedes-Benz V-Class in the Netherlands · Mercedes-Benz V-Class by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz V-Class body, chassis and structure failures · Mercedes-Benz V-Class brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz V-Class vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz V-Class noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz V-Class road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz V-Class seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz V-Class steering failures · Mercedes-Benz V-Class suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz V-Class tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz V-Class visibility failures