Mercedes-Benz 220
From 1,515 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements and a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 81 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 81 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 45 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 40 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 34 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 33 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 33 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 28 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 22 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 22 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 17 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 60.6% of 220 failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 11.3% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £146.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 81.6% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2015 | 79.5% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2014 | 83.7% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 1993 | 78.5% | steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
Typical mileage
Half of all 220s tested had between 73,120 and 133,880 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 107,109 median miles, the 220 has 0.022 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Common questions
What is the Mercedes-Benz 220 MOT pass rate?
The Mercedes-Benz 220 has a 76.2% MOT pass rate based on 1,515 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz 220?
The most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz 220 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 81 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
What is the typical mileage of a Mercedes-Benz 220 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mercedes-Benz 220 is 107,109 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 73,120 and 133,880 miles.
Buying a used 220?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 76.2% pass rate and an average repair bill of £146 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.