MOT fail rates by first-use year
2014 Mercedes-Benz SL MOT fail rate and common faults
How Mercedes-Benz SL cars first used in 2014 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 4,307 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 11 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 11 years old, Mercedes-Benz SL cars first used in 2014 failed 14.4% of MOTs (1,081 tests), 18.8 points below the 33.3% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 8 to 11 years old, the fail rate moved from 11.0% to 14.4%.
- Mercedes-Benz SL cars first used a year earlier, in 2013, failed 18.0% at the same age of 11 years (1,134 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Mercedes-Benz SL at 11 years, is engine warning lamp at the petrol emissions check: not working or showing a fault, at 2.3 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 0.9).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 8 years | 11.0% | 1,075 | 23.8% | −12.8 pts |
| 2023 | 9 years | 13.5% | 1,082 | 27.1% | −13.6 pts |
| 2024 | 10 years | 13.5% | 1,069 | 30.3% | −16.8 pts |
| 2025 | 11 years | 14.4% | 1,081 | 33.3% | −18.8 pts |
Most common faults at 11 years
These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz SL MOTs at 11 years: cars first used 2011 to 2014, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=2,919). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear | 2.3 | 1.3 |
| Engine warning lamp at the petrol emissions check: not working or showing a fault | 2.3 | 0.9 |
| Tyre with cords exposed Wear | 2.0 | 1.6 |
| Coil spring broken | 1.3 | 3.6 |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | 1.1 | 0.6 |
| Suspension ball joint worn | 1.1 | 2.1 |
| Tyre condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Wear | 1.0 | 0.5 |
| Tyre condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Wear | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| Road wheel condition: fractured | 0.8 | 0.0 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=2,919). 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 | 10.6 | 17.6 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 6.0 | 3.7 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 5.2 | 8.7 |
| Suspension ball joint: slight play | 4.7 | 1.7 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 3.7 | 10.0 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 3.6 | 7.8 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear | 2.3 | 1.2 |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively | 1.6 | 2.6 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit, under the 1.0 mm rule Wear | 1.5 | 2.3 |
| Road wheel condition: slightly distorted | 1.5 | 1.0 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=2,919). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 11 years
These figures cover all Mercedes-Benz SL MOTs at 11 years: cars first used 2011 to 2014, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=2,919). 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% | 16.9% | 2,916 | 32.5% | 45,604 miles |
Car tax rules for a 2014 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.
- 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
Other Mercedes-Benz models first used in 2014
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 24.7% | 25,362 | 33.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 30.4% | 23,343 | 33.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 24.6% | 19,599 | 33.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz B-Class (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 28.1% | 8,256 | 33.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz SLK (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 23.5% | 4,808 | 33.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz CLA (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 28.0% | 4,302 | 33.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz M-Class (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 20.2% | 3,810 | 33.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz GLA (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 20.9% | 3,462 | 33.3% |
More on the Mercedes-Benz SL
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2014 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.
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.