Used car guide

2016 Mercedes-Benz V-Class: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Mercedes-Benz V-Class first registered in 2016: we looked at the 4,500 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,500MOTs of 2016 cars, done in 2023–2025
80%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 77%)
13,600typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for ball joint

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2016 Mercedes-Benz V-Class?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz V-Class than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Ball joint2× usual
    Mercedes-Benz V-Class
    4.7% All 2016 cars
    2.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.2% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 0.6% here, against 4.9% of all 2016 cars.

Common 2016 Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2016 Mercedes-Benz V-Class MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    24% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    18% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    13% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    6% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2016 Mercedes-Benz V-Class

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz V-Class as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz V-Class?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Mercedes-Benz V-Class compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023682Tyres 16%
2022801Tyres 20%
20211,241Tyres 23%
20202,706Tyres 27%
20198,687Tyres 22%
20187,272Tyres 23%
20176,726Tyres 23%
20152,720Tyres 24%
2003193Brakes 54%
2002343Brakes 43%
2001169Brakes 47%
2000143Brakes 52%
1999182Brakes 51%
1998137Brakes 50%
1997–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Mercedes-Benz V-Class cars first registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score