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

77% of Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOTs passed first time, above the 72% for all cars at the same ages.

77%passed first time (cars its age: 72%)
1.9mMercedes-Benz E-Class MOTs counted since May 2018
6,500typical miles a year at 10 years old

First-time pass rate by year registered

Each year's Mercedes-Benz E-Classs against every car first registered the same year, at the same ages. Newer cars have only had their first few MOTs, so they look better. Years with fewer than 5,000 MOTs are left out.

Share of MOTs passed first time, by year first registered. All cars: every car first registered that year, at the same ages.
Registered	E-Class	All cars	MOTs
2021	88%	86%	6k
2020	87%	86%	26k
2019	87%	85%	95k
2018	85%	84%	129k
2017	86%	83%	166k
2016	84%	80%	167k
2015	81%	78%	186k
2014	79%	74%	177k
2013	76%	71%	165k
2012	74%	68%	128k
2011	74%	65%	121k
2010	72%	63%	105k
2009	70%	61%	64k
2008	69%	59%	42k
2007	69%	58%	54k
2006	67%	56%	39k
2005	66%	56%	46k
2004	65%	55%	49k
2003	66%	55%	39k
2002	63%	56%	14k
2001	61%	57%	11k
2000	64%	59%	8k
1999	62%	62%	7k
1998	65%	64%	8k
1996	67%	66%	5k
1995	69%	67%	8k
1994	69%	68%	7k

Compare two years of the E-Class, age for age.

First-time pass rate by age

Share of MOTs at each age that passed first time. Ages with fewer than 10,000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOTs are left out.

Commonest reasons for failure

Tyre tread below the legal limitOther cars its age: 2.52.9
Tyre has ply or cords exposedOther cars its age: 1.22.2
Suspension ball joint excessively wornOther cars its age: 1.32.1
Coil spring fractured or brokenOther cars its age: 2.31.9
Tyre cut deep enough to reach the plyOther cars its age: 1.21.6
Brake pipe excessively corrodedOther cars its age: 0.71.6
Brake pads less than 1.5mm thickOther cars its age: 1.91.1
Parking brake efficiency too lowOther cars its age: 1.21.1

Out of every 100 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOTs, against other cars at the same ages.

Where it comes up more than other cars its age

Wheel bearing has slight playAdvisory. Other cars its age: 0.53.3
Road wheel fracturedFail. Other cars its age: 0.00.5
Parking brake lever defective but can be satisfactorily operatedAdvisory. Other cars its age: 0.00.1
Tyre has ply or cords damagedFail. Other cars its age: 0.10.1
Position lamp with a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioningFail. Other cars its age: 0.00.1
Brake pipe at imminent risk of failure or fractureFail. Other cars its age: 0.00.0

Out of every 100 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOTs. Only items noted well above other cars of the same ages.

Miles a year

Typical miles a year between one MOT and the next: 8,500 at 3 years old, 3,500 at 20. Rounded to the nearest 1,000.

Counted from DVSA records of 286,058,652 MOTs, 20 May 2018 to 18 October 2026. A test and its retests count as one MOT, and a fail put right at the test counts as a first-time fail, as the DVSA counts it. About Mercedes-Benz E-Classs in general, not a prediction for any one car. Spotted a mistake? Email fuzzyreguk@gmail.com.

Check a Mercedes-Benz E-Class's MOT history

Every test and advisory, free, from the registration.