Common problems

Mercedes-Benz common problems by model

29 Mercedes-Benz models, each at its most tested age: the part area MOT testers fail most often, against all cars of the same age. From 6,647,717 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025. Open a model for every area, the items behind it and what to check on a viewing.

MOT data updated 28 September 2026

Mercedes-Benz models with at least 3 ages of 1,000 or more MOT tests. Fails per 100 MOTs in the most common area.
Model	Age	Tests (n)	Most common fail area	Per 100	All cars
C-Class	7 years	143,293	Tyres	7.6	6.0
A-Class	6 years	173,010	Tyres	7.3	5.6
E-Class	6 years	88,280	Tyres	7.9	5.6
Vito	6 years	31,108	Brakes	8.5	3.5
GLA	6 years	56,883	Tyres	5.3	5.6
GLC	5 years	61,223	Tyres	4.9	5.1
B-Class	10 years	27,268	Lights and electrics	8.5	11.2
CLA	3 years	39,186	Tyres	7.6	4.8
SLK	10 years	20,060	Suspension	8.9	9.7
M-Class	10 years	14,152	Tyres	5.6	6.9
CLK	18 years	16,271	Suspension	20.4	17.2
GLE	4 years	20,025	Tyres	6.6	4.7
S-Class	6 years	10,214	Tyres	4.8	5.6
CLS	9 years	10,164	Tyres	10.5	6.7
Sprinter	9 years	5,613	Brakes	12.4	5.6
Citan	7 years	12,901	Lights and electrics	20.9	5.8
SL	20 years	6,607	Suspension	6.8	16.5
V-Class	6 years	9,409	Tyres	6.8	5.6
SLC	6 years	8,273	Tyres	7.2	5.6
CLC	14 years	9,253	Suspension	25.1	16.0
EQC	3 years	12,448	Tyres	13.3	4.8
GLB	3 years	12,047	Tyres	4.5	4.8
Viano	11 years	2,377	Lights and electrics	16.5	13.3
X-Class	5 years	3,845	Brakes	6.4	2.8
GLS	5 years	2,103	Tyres	7.2	5.1
GL-Class	9 years	1,932	Tyres	8.1	6.7
G-Class	3 years	2,016	Tyres	4.2	4.8
R-Class	16 years	1,304	Lights and electrics	14.6	20.4
CL-Class	21 years	1,206	Suspension	8.6	15.9

For how often each model passes or fails its MOT, see Mercedes-Benz MOT fail rates by model.

Other makes

All makes

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.

The all cars figures cover all class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans) tested at the same age.

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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