MOT fail rates by first-use year
2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class MOT fail rate and common faults
How Mercedes-Benz M-Class cars first used in 2012 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 10,600 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 13 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 13 years old, Mercedes-Benz M-Class cars first used in 2012 failed 23.3% of MOTs (2,532 tests), 14.9 points below the 38.3% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 10 to 13 years old, the fail rate moved from 20.5% to 23.3%.
- Mercedes-Benz M-Class cars first used a year earlier, in 2011, failed 29.8% at the same age of 13 years (2,676 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Mercedes-Benz M-Class at 13 years, is coil spring broken, at 5.8 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 4.1).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 10 years | 20.5% | 2,732 | 30.3% | −9.8 pts |
| 2023 | 11 years | 22.5% | 2,717 | 33.3% | −10.7 pts |
| 2024 | 12 years | 22.4% | 2,619 | 36.0% | −13.6 pts |
| 2025 | 13 years | 23.3% | 2,532 | 38.3% | −14.9 pts |
Most common faults at 13 years
These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz M-Class MOTs at 13 years: cars first used 2009 to 2012, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=10,695). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Coil spring broken | 5.8 | 4.1 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 3.8 | 4.8 |
| Brake light not working Wear | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| Side repeaters: not working Wear | 2.4 | 0.6 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 2.2 | 3.0 |
| Engine warning lamp at the diesel emissions check: not working or showing a fault | 2.0 | 0.7 |
| Tyre with cords exposed Wear | 1.9 | 1.8 |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | 1.9 | 0.9 |
| Driveshaft CV boot split | 1.8 | 2.0 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear | 1.4 | 1.2 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=10,695). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 17.7 | 18.2 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 12.8 | 7.2 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 9.3 | 5.1 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 6.3 | 7.3 |
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated | 6.0 | 2.1 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 5.9 | 10.6 |
| Windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view | 3.2 | 2.9 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 3.0 | 9.1 |
| Shock absorber misting oil | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively | 2.9 | 2.4 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=10,695). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 13 years
These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz M-Class MOTs at 13 years: cars first used 2009 to 2012, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=10,695). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 98.2% | 29.8% | 10,502 | 39.1% | 108,696 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 13 years
These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz M-Class MOTs at 13 years: cars first used 2009 to 2012, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=10,695). At 13 years, Mercedes-Benz M-Class cars at over 150,000 miles failed more often (34.1%, n=1,007) than those at 60,000 to 90,000 miles (25.6%, n=2,239). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 25.6% | 2,239 | 38.0% |
| 90,000 to 120,000 miles | 31.4% | 4,214 | 42.2% |
| 120,000 to 150,000 miles | 30.8% | 2,717 | 43.2% |
| Over 150,000 miles | 34.1% | 1,007 | 43.0% |
Car tax rules for a 2012 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
- Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2012 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Other Mercedes-Benz models first used in 2012
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 32.3% | 25,938 | 38.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 30.8% | 13,845 | 38.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz B-Class (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 30.6% | 5,785 | 38.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz SLK (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 26.2% | 5,527 | 38.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 33.1% | 5,224 | 38.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz S-Class (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 19.5% | 1,162 | 38.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz CLS (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 26.2% | 1,081 | 38.3% |
More on the Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.