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Mercedes-Benz V-Class V 220 CDI Trend common faults.

1999–2003, MPV, diesel, 122 HP.

The fault list covers: OM611DE22LA engine, MB7226 transmission.

What you save stays on this device only. My saves

2 fault write-ups. Both are important. No recall on the list.

If you know the year, pick it. Faults for other years drop out of the list.

Before you buy

Known faults

2 important faults

5G-Tronic (722.6): control unit in oil, coolant in the ATF

expensive

The Mercedes 5 speed 722.6 automatic (5G-Tronic / NAG1) has three faults that also recur on the used market: (1) the control electronics sit inside the gearbox housing, and a leaking connector lets oil onto the electronics; (2) cooling faults around 2003 (and later) can let antifreeze into the ATF, which shortens its life; (3) wear of the torque converter lock-up clutch contaminates the valve body and causes jerky shifts.

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The early cars (1995 to 2001) had planetary gear and freewheel wear; after 1998 to 2001 the design improved, and on the used market the W203/W211/W220 era is the typical find.

between 120,000 and 250,000 km

What to check

  • Try it cold and warm: jerking or delayed shifts are suspect
  • Look at the colour and smell of the ATF: burnt oil points to wear, and a "milky" emulsion means antifreeze in the ATF
  • Ask for a fault code read on the gearbox controller
2 more steps in the write-up

V-Class W638: corrosion, electrical faults, weak brake system

expensive

The quality problems of the first V-Class (internal code W 638, 1996 to 2003) cannot be narrowed to one part: according to the German technical press the series suffered from several kinds of quality problem through to the end of production.

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  • Widespread corrosion. On a twenty to thirty year old MPV the question is how far the rust has gone.
  • Vehicle electrics, and within that the electronic level control (ENR) by name.
  • The maker introduced comprehensive revisions even in 2003, the last production year, which means an early and a late car are not the same vehicle.

In its 2014 used car report the DEKRA singled out the brake system, and rated the quality of the series poor overall.

On the W638 the condition of the individual car decides, not the model.

What to check

  • Go over the underbody, sills, wheel arches and rear suspension mounts on a lift: the corrosion was widespread
  • Open every door and the sliding door rail: the lower edges and the rails rust first
  • Try the electronic level control (ENR) if fitted: does it rise, and does it hold the height after standing
3 more steps in the write-up

Checklist

Mercedes-Benz V-Class V 220 CDI Trend

First what you would check on any car. Then the faults of this model.

Before you buy

Checklist

The printed sheet starts with what you would check on any car. What you tick stays on this device only.

On every car

Ask the owner

Faults of this model

vinkodex.com · Before you buy it, see what can go wrong.

Engine and transmission

OM611DE22LA

60–90 kW (82–122 HP) · diesel

MB7226 · 5G-Tronic, longitudinal (Mercedes 722.6 / NAG1)

automatic · 5 speed

Torque limit600 Nm
MakerMercedes-Benz

We built the code from the model and the gear count. The factory sheet does not state it.

Variant data

What is in this version

Factory data

Trim
V 220 CDI Trend
Body
MPV
Fuel
diesel
Transmission
automatic
Engine size
2151 cc
Power
90 kW (122 HP)
Drive
FWD
Production
1999–2003

Factory service interval

The manufacturer specifies this for this version. Of the mileage and the time, the one that comes first is the one that counts.

  • Air filter

    • 60,000 km or 4 years

  • Cabin (pollen) filter

    • 30,000 km or 2 years

  • Brake fluid change

    • first: 3 years, then 2 years(first change at 3 years, then every two years)

  • Fuel filter, diesel

    • 60,000 km or 2 years
All W638 versions

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms