Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Mercedes Benz Citan?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2016 Mercedes Benz Citan?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2016 Mercedes Benz Citan?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2016 Mercedes Benz Citan vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

52% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2016 Mercedes Benz Citan reliable?

Based on MOT data from 3,701 vehicles, the 2016 Mercedes Benz Citan has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Mercedes Benz Citan?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Mercedes Benz Citan are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (54.3% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (52.6% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (37% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2016 Mercedes Benz Citan?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Mercedes Benz Citan (2016)

3,701 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76% first-time pass rate

2016 Mercedes Benz Citan

CarHunch analysed 3,701 real MOT records for the 2016 Mercedes Benz Citan. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz Citan falls short of the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of 75.9% against the national benchmark of 80%, and this is genuinely concerning—over half of these vans (51.6%) have experienced a dangerous defect at some point, which is a significant red flag for safety-critical systems. With an average of 2.28 failures per vehicle and 11.2 advisories, this model is clearly prone to problems once it gets past the test station.

At 78,500 miles median mileage for an eight-year-old van, these Citans have been worked reasonably hard but not excessively, suggesting the defect issues aren't purely down to extreme use. Before buying one, insist on a full pre-purchase inspection that specifically targets the dangerous defect history—brake systems, suspension, and electrical faults are common in this cohort—and budget for repairs, as the advisory rate indicates ongoing wear that soon becomes costly.

The 2016 Mercedes Benz Citan has a decent first-time pass rate (76%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

76%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

51.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.28

Over 8.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

78k

Middle half: 59k–104k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 11.2 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 3,701 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 3,701 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 54.3%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 37%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 26.5%

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Lighting 14.4%

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources · Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources · Nearside Front Position lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 3,701 Mercedes Benz Citan cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Mercedes Benz Citan

Based on MOT data from 3,701 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 51.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (99%)	3,679	75.9%	2.28

Colour Breakdown

Based on 20,176 Mercedes Benz Citan vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 75.5%

15,229

Silver 12.2%

2,470

Black 4.4%

886

Grey 3.6%

721

Blue 2.2%

450

Red 1.3%

272

Green 0.5%

100

Orange 0.1%

Brown 0.1%

Yellow 0.1%

Multi-colour 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Mercedes Benz Citan vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

78,482

typical

58,936

low mileage

103,616

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Mercedes Benz Citan vehicles fall between 58,936 and 103,616 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 58,936 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 58,936–103,616 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Mercedes Benz Citans sit.

⚠ Over 139,881 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Mercedes Benz Citan — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Mercedes Benz Citans are still on the road.

Strong survival — 3,151 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 92% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

8.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.28

Avg failures per vehicle

11.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mercedes Benz Citan: All Citan years → Which year to buy? →

2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Mercedes Benz →

Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Mercedes Benz Citan stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing