Diesel Mercedes-Benz Citan: MOT pass rate

69.5% of diesel Mercedes-Benz Citans pass the MOT first time, measured across 17,745 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 103,275.

Diesel against the other Mercedes-Benz Citan versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Mercedes-Benz Citan specifically, petrol is the strongest at 88.8%, and this diesel version sits 0.3 points below the 69.8% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Mercedes-Benz Citan had covered 103,275 miles at test, against 51,218 for the petrol. That is above average and into the range where cambelts and water pumps are due if they have not already been done, so ask for the service history rather than take the mileage on trust.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Mercedes-Benz Citan page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Mercedes-Benz Citan

1. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 8.2% of tests (5.35x the national rate for this defect)
2. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 6.3% of tests (4.81x the national rate for this defect)
3. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 5% of tests (4.65x the national rate for this defect)
4. A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, 3.9% of tests (4.37x the national rate for this defect)
5. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 5.4% of tests (3.96x the national rate for this defect)
6. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 2.1% of tests (2.64x the national rate for this defect)
7. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 4.8% of tests (2.23x the national rate for this defect)
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 6.6% of tests (2.05x the national rate for this defect)
9. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 4.3% of tests (1.92x the national rate for this defect)
10. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 2.3% of tests (1.91x the national rate for this defect)

From 17,792 DVSA-tracked diesel Mercedes-Benz Citan tests, 2024, split out from the Mercedes-Benz Citan's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 6.82% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Mercedes-Benz Citan

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.7% of tests (10.14x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing, loose or worn smooth, 1.6% of tests (8.26x the national rate for this defect)
3. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 5% of tests (3.71x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 3.1% of tests (2.91x the national rate for this defect)
5. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 17.8% of tests (2.87x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 14.3% of tests (1.53x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 4.6% of tests (1.44x the national rate for this defect), also fails
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 37.2% of tests (1.39x the national rate for this defect), also fails
9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 16.9% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this defect)
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 7.3% of tests

From 17,792 DVSA-tracked diesel Mercedes-Benz Citan tests, 2024.

Other Mercedes-Benz Citan fuel types

• Petrol Mercedes-Benz Citan - 88.8%

All Mercedes-Benz Citan MOT data · Every model