Mercedes-Benz common problems and MOT failures

From 3,601,585 MOT tests in 2024, 14.6% of Mercedes-Benz vehicles failed. Below are the most common reasons, ranked by how often they occur.

Top Mercedes-Benz MOT failure reasons

#	Problem	Occurrences	% of failures
1	suspension pin, bush or joint worn	88,009	17.7%
2	tyre tread depth outside legal limits	68,207	13.7%
3	tyre seriously damaged	66,238	13.3%
4	spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened	48,287	9.7%
5	tyre cords visible or damaged	41,251	8.3%
6	suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	41,159	8.3%
7	engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction	37,672	7.6%
8	brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded	37,324	7.5%
9	parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement	35,306	7.1%
10	the aim of a headlamp is not within limits the requirements	34,229	6.9%

What this means if you're buying a Mercedes-Benz

The single most common MOT failure for Mercedes-Benz is suspension pin, bush or joint worn, accounting for 18% of all failure items. Suspension repairs typically cost £150–£400 depending on the component.

These figures are from real MOT inspections — they show what testers actually find wrong with Mercedes-Benz vehicles. If you're viewing a used Mercedes-Benz, it's worth checking these areas specifically.

Mercedes-Benz models by MOT pass rate

Lowest pass rates first — these models have the most testable issues.

Model	Tests	Pass rate
Clc	15,588	74.1%
Clk	54,883	77.3%
Citan	32,208	78.1%
Sprinter	327,362	79.6%
Viano	10,544	79.7%
Vito	151,914	80.1%
B-Class	104,041	80.9%
Slk	117,017	82.5%
Ml	66,240	83.8%
Sprinter 315 Progressive Cdi	18,573	83.9%
Cls	41,925	84.2%
C	685,913	84.3%
A-Class	447,325	84.8%
E	451,816	85.4%
Sprinter 314 Progressive Cdi	11,601	85.8%

Buying a specific Mercedes-Benz? Check the individual vehicle's MOT history for free on GOV.UK to see its actual test results, advisories, and mileage readings.

Check MOT history on GOV.UK