Mercedes Benz Citan MOT Failures
An analysis of 395,579 real DVSA MOT tests on the Mercedes Benz Citan — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: W415 (2012–2021).
Where the Mercedes Benz Citan fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Mercedes Benz Citan is brake pedal anti-slip provision missing, loose ... — this model is 11 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it worth watching for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 395,579 MOT tests, 0.46% of all Mercedes Benz Citan tests recorded this as a failure.
Brake failures on the MOT range from worn pads and discs (routine maintenance) to corroded brake lines and seized calipers (more serious). Check for any pulling under braking and listen for grinding.
Other notable weak points include service brake control not releasing correctly a... (114x the fleet average), stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case o... (27x the fleet average), transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot... (13x the fleet average), and lens defective (11x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Mercedes Benz Citan's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 4 categories: Brakes, Lights & Electrics, Bodywork, Wipers & Windscreen. If you're inspecting a Mercedes Benz Citan before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Mercedes Benz Citan's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Mercedes Benz Citan specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case o... (21x the average) and lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a m... (21x). stop lamps all missing or inoperative (11x) and brake pedal anti-slip provision missing, loose ... (11x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Mercedes Benz Citan specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are service brake control not releasing correctly a... (114x the average) and lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a m... (16x). lens defective (9.4x) and stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case o... (8.9x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Mercedes Benz Citan specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are service brake control not releasing correctly a... (71x the average) and wheel damage (27x). lens defective (11x) and lens defective which has no effect on emitted l... (9.0x) also appear frequently.
The shift from stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case o... at lower mileages to service brake control not releasing correctly a... at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Mercedes Benz Citan specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Brake pipe corrosion Dangerous
The Citan uses steel brake pipes that are particularly susceptible to corrosion compared to the national fleet average. Affects W415; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£400.
Steering ball joint wear Major
Steering ball joints on the Citan develop excessive wear at 8.3 times the national fleet average rate, with failures documented from very low mileages. Affects W415; typical independent garage repair cost is £150–£300.
CV joint boot failure Major
The Citan suffers CV joint boot failures at up to 12.7 times the national fleet average rate, the highest failure rate recorded for this model. Affects W415; typical independent garage repair cost is £100–£200.
Brake pedal anti-slip provision failure
The brake pedal rubber grip surface becomes worn smooth or detaches at 12.2 times the national fleet average rate. Affects W415; typical independent garage repair cost is £20–£40.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Mercedes Benz Citan common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Mercedes Benz Citan
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Mercedes Benz Citan:
Brakes — check for brake pedal anti-slip provision missing, loose ..., service brake control not releasing correctly a.... Lights & Electrics — check for stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case o..., lens defective, lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a m.... Bodywork — check for transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot....
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about brake pipe corrosion and steering ball joint wear. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £200. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Mercedes Benz Citan?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Mercedes Benz Citan MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mercedes Benz Citan?
Based on 395,579 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is brake pedal anti-slip provision missing, loose ... — at 11x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include service brake control not releasing correctly a... and stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case o....
Is the Mercedes Benz Citan reliable based on MOT data?
The Mercedes Benz Citan has 20 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag brake pipe corrosion as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Mercedes Benz Citan most commonly fails on service brake control not releasing correctly a... and wheel damage. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case o... and lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a m....
How do I check a Mercedes Benz Citan's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.