MOT fail rates by first-use year

2003 Mercedes-Benz SL MOT fail rate and common faults

How Mercedes-Benz SL cars first used in 2003 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 9,855 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated 28 September 2026

At 22 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 22 (n=2,264)18.6%

All cars at 22 years (n=913,980)41.0%

Difference−22.4 pts

MOT tests of 2003 cars, 2022 to 20259,855

What stands out

In 2025, at 22 years old, Mercedes-Benz SL cars first used in 2003 failed 18.6% of MOTs (2,264 tests), 22.4 points below the 41.0% for all cars that age.
From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 19 to 22 years old, the fail rate moved from 20.4% to 18.6%.
The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Mercedes-Benz SL at 22 years, is suspension arm ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt, at 1.5 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 1.0).

MOT fail rate by test year

Mercedes-Benz SL cars first used in 2003: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test year	Age	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars	Difference
2022	19 years	20.4%	2,678	43.2%	−22.8 pts
2023	20 years	18.6%	2,524	42.8%	−24.1 pts
2024	21 years	20.2%	2,389	42.1%	−21.9 pts
2025	22 years	18.6%	2,264	41.0%	−22.4 pts

Most common faults at 22 years

These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz SL MOTs at 22 years: cars first used 2000 to 2003, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,069). 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
Suspension arm ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt	1.5	1.0
Suspension ball joint worn	1.4	2.0
Airbag (SRS) warning light on	1.4	1.3
Wipers not clearing screen Wear	1.2	3.5
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded	1.1	2.4
Dipped headlight not working Wear	1.0	1.6
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear	1.0	0.9
Tyre with cords exposed Wear	0.9	1.2
Tyre condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Wear	0.8	0.9
Shock absorber leaking	0.8	1.0

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=4,069). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

Advisory	Per 100 MOTs	All cars
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material	10.6	15.9
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear	8.5	13.7
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened	7.1	10.1
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear	7.1	10.4
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive	6.6	15.1
Shock absorber misting oil	4.8	3.1
Suspension ball joint: slight play	4.6	2.8
Brake pads wearing thin Wear	4.6	5.0
Wheel bearings: has slight play	3.6	2.2
Suspension arm ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated	3.3	2.0

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=4,069). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 22 years

These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz SL MOTs at 22 years: cars first used 2000 to 2003, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,069). 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
Petrol	100.0%	18.6%	4,061	40.6%	74,360 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 22 years

These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz SL MOTs at 22 years: cars first used 2000 to 2003, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,069). At 22 years, Mercedes-Benz SL cars at 60,000 to 90,000 miles failed more often (19.1%, n=1,458) than those at 30,000 to 60,000 miles (14.2%, n=1,081). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at test	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars
30,000 to 60,000 miles	14.2%	1,081	33.3%
60,000 to 90,000 miles	19.1%	1,458	39.7%

Car tax rules for a 2003 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

Many petrol cars first registered from 2001 to 2005 already meet Euro 4, but not all of them. For a 2003 petrol car the Euro standard of that car decides.
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 SL

2002 Mercedes-Benz SL 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL

Other Mercedes-Benz models first used in 2003

Model	Age at test	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars
Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2003)	22 years in 2025	40.8%	3,666	41.0%
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2003)	22 years in 2025	31.4%	2,467	41.0%
Mercedes-Benz CLK (2003)	22 years in 2025	33.9%	2,444	41.0%
Mercedes-Benz SLK (2003)	22 years in 2025	31.7%	1,536	41.0%
Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2003)	21 years in 2024	43.7%	1,273	42.1%
Mercedes-Benz M-Class (2003)	20 years in 2023	43.2%	1,279	42.8%

More on the Mercedes-Benz SL

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL 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.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

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.