Mercedes-Benz R-Class
From 4,964 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer R-Classs fare better: 2013 models pass at 79.4% vs 71.5% for 2006.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement and a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated. The top issue, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, caused 145 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 transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 145 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 104 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 93 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 89 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 79 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 73 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 49 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 48 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 46 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 38 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 30% of R-Class failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 38% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £153.
Mercedes-Benz R-Class on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 227 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 226. At this rate, roughly 9.4 years until none remain. Now at 54.3% of its peak (3,885 in 2013 Q3).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,463 | 645 | +0 | -56 | -56 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,536 | 628 | +0 | -71 | -71 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,605 | 630 | +1 | -35 | -34 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,642 | 627 | +0 | -65 | -65 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,714 | 620 | +0 | -57 | -57 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,812 | 579 | +1 | -60 | -59 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,871 | 579 | +0 | -44 | -44 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,936 | 558 | +0 | -37 | -37 |
6 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| R350 Cdi 4Matic Auto | Diesel | 733 | 63% |
| R320 Sport Cdi A | Diesel | 115 | 10% |
| R350 L Grand Ed Cdi A | Diesel | 100 | 9% |
| R320L Sport Cdi A | Diesel | 83 | 7% |
| R320 L Sport Cdi A | Diesel | 74 | 6% |
| R320 L Se Cdi A | Diesel | 56 | 5% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 79.4% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated |
| 2012 | 80.8% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2011 | 90.8% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated |
| 2010 | 73.6% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
4 earlier years
| 2009 | 72.9% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2008 | 79.1% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated |
| 2007 | 69.5% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2006 | 71.5% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all R-Classs tested had between 84,606 and 157,541 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 120,681 median miles, the R-Class has 0.017 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Common questions
What is the Mercedes-Benz R-Class MOT pass rate?
The Mercedes-Benz R-Class has a 80% MOT pass rate based on 4,964 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz R-Class?
The most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz R-Class is a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, which caused 145 failures. Other common issues include parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement.
How many Mercedes-Benz R-Classs are on UK roads?
There are 1,463 Mercedes-Benz R-Classs currently licensed on UK roads, with 645 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mercedes-Benz R-Class at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mercedes-Benz R-Class is 120,681 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 84,606 and 157,541 miles.
Buying a used R-Class?
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 80% pass rate and an average repair bill of £153 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 30% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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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.