MOT failures by make
Mercedes-Benz MOT failures for “Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded”
Mercedes-Benz cars failed their MOT on “Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded” in 1.05% of 3,425,149 tests in 2023–2024 (35,846 tests) — 1.7 times as often as comparable cars of the same age, mileage and fuel, which would have failed on it in about 0.61% of tests. It is the number 9 most common failure item on Mercedes-Benzs.
Data to 2024-12-30 · Page updated 2026-09-28 · Publisher: 73 Auto
- Mercedes-Benz tests failing on it
- 1.05%
- 35,846 of 3,425,149 tests, 2023–2024
- Comparable cars
- 0.61%
- national rate at the same age, mileage and fuel
- Observed ÷ expected
- 1.71×
- 73 Auto analysis · rank #9 for Mercedes-Benz
How unusual this is for the make
Across all MOT failures, Mercedes-Benzs fail 14% less often than comparable cars. On this item the gap is 1.99× wider than that overall level, so it is a genuine Mercedes-Benz pattern rather than a reflection of how often the make fails in general. It is a major defect in the brakes part of the test. Nationally it appears on 0.66% of MOT tests.
Mercedes-Benz models and “Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded”
The Mercedes-Benz Citan is most affected (10.21× comparable cars); the Mercedes-Benz GLC least (0.00×). Not every model follows the make: the pattern is concentrated in some models. Model rows compare with cars of the same age and fuel.
| Model | Tests | Failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz Citan | 40,694 | 2.20% | 10.21× |
| Mercedes-Benz CLS | 48,848 | 2.38% | 2.81× |
| Mercedes-Benz CLC | 17,704 | 2.63% | 2.30× |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 488,758 | 1.42% | 2.21× |
| Mercedes-Benz B-Class | 145,990 | 1.38% | 2.17× |
| Mercedes-Benz Sprinter | 46,508 | 2.51% | 2.12× |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 766,949 | 1.40% | 1.97× |
| Mercedes-Benz Vito | 176,345 | 1.27% | 1.69× |
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 685,711 | 0.54% | 1.54× |
| Mercedes-Benz Viano | 11,169 | 1.63% | 1.27× |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE | 125,766 | 0.95% | 1.26× |
| Mercedes-Benz SLK | 133,811 | 1.38% | 1.18× |
| Mercedes-Benz CLK | 60,862 | 2.43% | 1.18× |
| Mercedes-Benz S-Class | 55,571 | 0.82% | 1.00× |
| Mercedes-Benz SL | 43,454 | 0.85% | 0.60× |
| Mercedes-Benz V-Class | 21,178 | 0.10% | 0.41× |
| Mercedes-Benz CLA | 117,936 | 0.01% | 0.11× |
| Mercedes-Benz GLA | 165,835 | 0.00% | 0.04× |
| Mercedes-Benz GLC | 150,770 | 0.00% | 0.00× |
By age at test
The difference is largest at 11-12 years old: 2.90% of Mercedes-Benz tests against 0.83% for comparable cars.
| Age (years) | Mercedes-Benz tests | Mercedes-Benz | Comparable cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 559,106 | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| 5-6 | 655,872 | 0.02% | 0.10% |
| 7-8 | 572,812 | 0.13% | 0.25% |
| 9-10 | 405,603 | 0.88% | 0.51% |
| 11-12 | 270,875 | 2.90% | 0.83% |
| 13-15 | 322,745 | 3.45% | 1.21% |
| 16+ | 480,292 | 2.57% | 2.20% |
Other Mercedes-Benz MOT faults that stand out
- 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
Limitations
Official data: DVSA's anonymised MOT results (2023–2024), class 4 initial tests, cars at least 2.5 years old. 73 Auto analysis: the comparison rate applies the national rate of this item for each test's own age, mileage band and fuel to the Mercedes-Benz tests. An MOT result reflects maintenance, mileage and how a car is used as well as its design, so this is not a measure of which make is most reliable. The wording of the defect is DVSA's.
Has this Mercedes-Benz failed on it before?
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UK number plate or 17-character VIN
Where these figures come from
- Anonymised MOT tests and results (2023 and 2024) — Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Open Government Licence v3.0.
Figures labelled as 73 Auto estimates are our own analysis of these sources, set out in the methodology and data sources. To report a factual error, see corrections.