MOT performance

Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT pass rate and common failures

Across 55,571 MOT tests of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class in 2023–2024, 82.6% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Mercedes-Benz S-Classs failed 41% less often than comparable cars. The most common failure item was “ball joint: ball joint excessively worn”, on 2.66% of tests.

55,571 MOT tests on 28,180 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto

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At a glance

Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT results at a glance
Figure	Value	Basis
First-time pass rate	82.6%	±0.3 pts (95%), n = 55,571
Failures vs similar cars	0.58×	same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00
Tests with a dangerous defect	6.2%	n = 55,571
Average age at test	10.6 years	n = 55,571
Median mileage at test	80,420 miles	n = 55,571
Vehicles tested	28,180	2023–2024

Where Mercedes-Benz S-Classs fail

The share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. Areas where the difference is large and clear link to their own page.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT failures by area
Area	Tests failed on it	vs similar cars
Tyres	5.3%	-18%
Suspension	4.7%	-50%
Brakes	4.3%	-43%
Lights, reflectors and electrical	4.1%	-66%
Noise, emissions and leaks	2.7%	-24%
Driver's view of the road	2.2%	-54%
Seat belts and airbags	1.0%	-26%
Body, chassis and structure	0.9%	-78%
Road wheels	0.8%	+90%
Registration plates and VIN	0.5%	+22%
Steering	0.5%	-77%
Speedometer and driving controls	0.0%	-8%

Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT pass rate by fuel: diesel vs petrol

Raw pass rates partly reflect how old each fuel's cars are; the adjusted column compares each with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. Fuels that differ materially from the model as a whole have their own page.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT results by fuel
Fuel	Tests	Average age	First-time pass	vs similar cars
Diesel	38,634	9.5 yrs	82.6%	-42%
Petrol	14,498	14.4 yrs	81.4%	-42%
Hybrid	2,393	6 yrs	89.0%	-30%

Most common failure items

Most common Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT failure items
Item	Area	Share of tests
Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn	Suspension	2.66%
Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	2.11%
Condition: has ply or cords exposed	Tyres	1.18%
Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords	Tyres	0.99%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction	Noise, emissions and leaks	0.96%
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid	Driver's view of the road	0.82%
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded	Brakes	0.82%
Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements	Brakes	0.81%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick	Brakes	0.77%
Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	0.77%

Most common advisories

Advisories are items the tester expects to need attention soon; they don't fail the test.

Most common Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT advisories
Item	Area	Share of tests
Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	14.56%
Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	Brakes	6.76%
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded	Brakes	6.73%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick	Brakes	5.98%
Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn	Suspension	5.10%

Pass rate by age

Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT pass rate by age at test
Age at test (years)	Tests	First-time pass rate	Failures vs similar cars
3-4	6,667	92.0%	-53%
5-6	9,855	89.0%	-45%
7-8	9,440	86.7%	-44%
9-10	5,669	83.1%	-45%
11-12	4,406	78.4%	-41%
13-15	5,802	75.2%	-40%
16+	12,904	73.7%	-36%

Pass rate by registration year

Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOT pass rate by registration year
Registered	Tests	First-time pass rate	Failures vs similar cars
2021	743	92.7%	0.50×
2020	1,379	91.0%	0.57×
2019	5,086	92.0%	0.45×
2018	4,876	90.5%	0.48×
2017	4,928	87.4%	0.61×
2016	5,510	87.2%	0.58×
2015	4,430	86.4%	0.53×
2014	3,331	86.4%	0.47×
2013	2,020	79.7%	0.61×
2012	2,510	77.0%	0.65×
2011	1,907	78.8%	0.56×
2010	1,801	78.8%	0.53×
2009	1,788	73.0%	0.67×
2008	2,050	73.8%	0.63×
2007	2,718	73.9%	0.61×
2006	2,205	76.3%	0.55×
2005	1,140	71.6%	0.64×
2004	1,369	74.6%	0.57×
2003	1,408	73.0%	0.61×
2002	856	70.7%	0.68×
2001	728	69.6%	0.74×
2000	629	68.5%	0.79×
1999	390	71.8%	0.76×
1998	344	74.1%	0.78×

Years with fewer tests are shown for completeness; only years with enough tests have their own page.

Compared with similar models

Check a specific Mercedes-Benz S-Class

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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.