MOT performance
Mercedes-Benz MOT pass rates and common failures
Across 3,425,149 MOT tests of Mercedes-Benz cars in 2023–2024, 76.7% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Mercedes-Benzs failed 14% less often than comparable cars. Of the 19 Mercedes-Benz models with enough tests, the Mercedes-Benz SL failed least often relative to comparable cars.
3,425,149 MOT tests on 1,772,906 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 76.7% | ±0 pts (95%), n = 3,425,149 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.86× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 7.7% | n = 3,425,149 |
| Average age at test | 9 years | n = 3,425,149 |
Mercedes-Benz models
Every Mercedes-Benz model with at least 10,000 tests, most-tested first.
| Model | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 766,949 | 74.5% | 0.85× |
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 685,711 | 78.8% | 0.94× |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 488,758 | 77.5% | 0.78× |
| Mercedes-Benz Vito | 176,345 | 66.2% | 1.02× |
| Mercedes-Benz GLA | 165,835 | 85.6% | 0.82× |
| Mercedes-Benz GLC | 150,770 | 87.7% | 0.71× |
| Mercedes-Benz B-Class | 145,990 | 73.0% | 0.96× |
| Mercedes-Benz SLK | 133,811 | 74.2% | 0.82× |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE | 125,766 | 78.8% | 0.73× |
| Mercedes-Benz CLA | 117,936 | 80.8% | 0.94× |
| Mercedes-Benz CLK | 60,862 | 62.1% | 0.88× |
| Mercedes-Benz S-Class | 55,571 | 82.6% | 0.58× |
| Mercedes-Benz CLS | 48,848 | 74.4% | 0.80× |
| Mercedes-Benz Sprinter | 46,508 | 70.5% | 0.88× |
| Mercedes-Benz SL | 43,454 | 82.9% | 0.54× |
| Mercedes-Benz Citan | 40,694 | 61.7% | 1.49× |
| Mercedes-Benz V-Class | 21,178 | 80.8% | 0.81× |
| Mercedes-Benz CLC | 17,704 | 55.5% | 1.07× |
| Mercedes-Benz Viano | 11,169 | 65.0% | 0.89× |
Where Mercedes-Benzs fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 7.1% | +11% |
| Suspension | 7.0% | -13% |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 6.5% | -36% |
| Brakes | 5.7% | -14% |
| Driver's view of the road | 3.1% | -31% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.8% | -7% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 1.5% | -53% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.1% | +12% |
| Steering | 0.7% | -58% |
| Road wheels | 0.7% | +82% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.4% | +17% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | -34% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 2.50% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 2.32% |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 2.13% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 1.66% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 1.58% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 1.34% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | Driver's view of the road | 1.14% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 1.08% |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | Brakes | 1.05% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.01% |
Pass rate by age
| Age at test (years) | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 559,106 | 86.9% | -11% |
| 5-6 | 655,872 | 83.1% | -11% |
| 7-8 | 572,812 | 79.1% | -16% |
| 9-10 | 405,603 | 73.9% | -17% |
| 11-12 | 270,875 | 69.5% | -16% |
| 13-15 | 322,745 | 64.2% | -14% |
| 16+ | 480,292 | 64.2% | -14% |
MOT failures where Mercedes-Benz stands out
Individual failure items that Mercedes-Benzs record clearly more or less often than cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. All Mercedes-Benz MOT failure patterns.
- Position lamp: not working · 0.41× comparable cars
- Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn · 1.67× comparable cars
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively · 0.53× comparable cars
- Stop lamp: not working · 0.52× comparable cars
- Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded · 1.71× comparable cars
Check a specific Mercedes-Benz
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.