MOT failures by make
Mercedes-Benz MOT failures for “Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively”
Mercedes-Benz cars failed their MOT on “Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively” in 1.08% of 3,425,149 tests in 2023–2024 (36,875 tests) — 47% less often than comparable cars of the same age, mileage and fuel, which would have failed on it in about 2.02% of tests. It is the number 8 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
- 1.08%
- 36,875 of 3,425,149 tests, 2023–2024
- Comparable cars
- 2.02%
- national rate at the same age, mileage and fuel
- Observed ÷ expected
- 0.53×
- 73 Auto analysis · rank #8 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 0.62× narrower 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 driver's view of the road part of the test. Nationally it appears on 2.11% of MOT tests.
Mercedes-Benz models and “Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively”
The Mercedes-Benz GLC is least affected (0.22× comparable cars); the Mercedes-Benz Citan most (2.03×). 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 | 3.56% | 2.03× |
| Mercedes-Benz Sprinter | 46,508 | 2.81% | 1.25× |
| Mercedes-Benz Vito | 176,345 | 2.31% | 1.17× |
| Mercedes-Benz V-Class | 21,178 | 1.98% | 1.08× |
| Mercedes-Benz CLC | 17,704 | 1.97% | 0.84× |
| Mercedes-Benz Viano | 11,169 | 1.58% | 0.75× |
| Mercedes-Benz CLK | 60,862 | 2.21% | 0.72× |
| Mercedes-Benz B-Class | 145,990 | 1.16% | 0.59× |
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 685,711 | 1.10% | 0.56× |
| Mercedes-Benz CLA | 117,936 | 1.00% | 0.54× |
| Mercedes-Benz GLA | 165,835 | 0.97% | 0.52× |
| Mercedes-Benz SLK | 133,811 | 1.10% | 0.45× |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 766,949 | 0.87% | 0.43× |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE | 125,766 | 0.76% | 0.37× |
| Mercedes-Benz SL | 43,454 | 0.98% | 0.36× |
| Mercedes-Benz CLS | 48,848 | 0.69% | 0.36× |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 488,758 | 0.64% | 0.33× |
| Mercedes-Benz S-Class | 55,571 | 0.63% | 0.30× |
| Mercedes-Benz GLC | 150,770 | 0.43% | 0.22× |
By age at test
The difference is most pronounced at 3-4 years old: 0.98% of Mercedes-Benz tests against 2.28% for comparable cars.
| Age (years) | Mercedes-Benz tests | Mercedes-Benz | Comparable cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 559,106 | 0.98% | 2.28% |
| 5-6 | 655,872 | 0.77% | 1.66% |
| 7-8 | 572,812 | 0.75% | 1.55% |
| 9-10 | 405,603 | 0.84% | 1.69% |
| 11-12 | 270,875 | 0.93% | 1.90% |
| 13-15 | 322,745 | 1.32% | 2.24% |
| 16+ | 480,292 | 2.05% | 3.02% |
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
- Stop lamp: not working · 0.52× comparable cars
- Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded · 1.71× 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.