TfL Ref: 2346-1617

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 23 February 2017 asking for details of how many Mercedes Vito taxis failed annual inspection due to faulty rear wheel steering. I apologise for the delay in replying.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our Information Access Policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked:

“… how many Mercedes Vito taxis failed annual inspection due to faulty rear wheel steering?”

The total number of Mercedes Vito taxis currently licensed is approximately 2,821.

As you have not provided a specific timeframe for your request we have provided the most recent figures. For the previous year, running from March 2016 to March 2017, we recorded 124 Mercedes Vito taxis as having failed inspection owing to a steering manoeuvrability fault. Failed inspections can be attributed to the complexity of the steering system of Vito models. However, all vehicles that failed an inspection due to steering defects were corrected before the taxi was granted a licence.

If this is not the information you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Sara Thomas | FOI Case Officer

General Counsel | Transport for London

Windsor House, 42-50 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0TL