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

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 V?

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 V?

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 V vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

44% 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 V reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,463 vehicles, the 2016 Mercedes Benz V has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85.6%, 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 V?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Mercedes Benz V are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (39.2% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (37.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (34.1% 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 V?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Mercedes Benz V (2016)

1,463 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.6% first-time pass rate

2016 Mercedes Benz V

CarHunch analysed 1,463 real MOT records for the 2016 Mercedes Benz V. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz V passes its MOT first time at 85.5%, which is a solid 5.5 percentage points above the UK average of 80%, suggesting generally reliable engineering for this people-carrier. However, 43.5% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a significant concern and worth investigating on any used example you're considering.

These vans are running at a median 73,261 miles for their age, which is reasonable, but the average of 7.6 advisories per vehicle indicates ongoing wear—typically suspension, brakes and lighting issues typical of high-use commercial or family transport. Before buying, request the full MOT history and have an independent mechanic inspect the braking system and suspension components, as these are the areas most likely to need attention.

The 2016 Mercedes Benz V has a decent first-time pass rate (85.6%), 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

85.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

43.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.48

Over 9.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

73k

Middle half: 50k–109k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 85.6% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 7.6 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 1,463 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 1,463 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 39.2%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front 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 21.2%

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 10.6%

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION

Suspension & steering 6.2%

Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

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 1,463 Mercedes Benz V cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Mercedes Benz V

Based on MOT data from 1,463 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 43.5% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 14,304 Mercedes Benz V vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 43.5%

6,217

Silver 32.9%

4,708

Blue 9%

1,289

Grey 4.5%

648

Turquoise 3%

436

White 2%

290

Maroon 1.8%

251

Green 1.5%

219

Purple 0.7%

104

Red 0.6%

Brown 0.3%

Orange 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Mercedes Benz V 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.

73,261

typical

50,239

low mileage

108,913

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Mercedes Benz V vehicles fall between 50,239 and 108,913 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 50,239 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.

✓ 50,239–108,913 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Mercedes Benz Vs sit.

⚠ Over 147,032 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 V — Still on the Road

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

Strong survival — 1,269 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 97% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.
* 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

9.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.48

Avg failures per vehicle

7.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2015 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

Or browse all models: Mercedes Benz →

Compare with another model

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

Watch for defects — worth knowing