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Mercedes-Benz C-Class steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 143,293 MOT tests · Updated

At 7 years, 0.1 in 100 MOT tests of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class failed on steering, against 0.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 143,293 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: fails less often than all class 4 vehicles the same age (0.1× (0.11–0.15×)) (all test years), 144 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 23 ages from 3 to 25 years, 1,528,968 MOT tests
  • MOT tests at 7 years: 143,293 for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.1 fails per 100 MOT tests at 7 years, against 0.8 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 7 (all test years). The Mercedes-Benz C-Class fails less often here.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class steering fails by age

Mercedes-Benz C-Class steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.0243 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 49,103 MOT tests34 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 72,956 MOT tests5 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 105,976 MOT tests56 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 133,032 MOT tests7 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 143,293 MOT tests78 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 140,055 MOT tests9 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 124,542 MOT tests910 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 115,498 MOT tests11 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 101,794 MOT tests1112 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 90,093 MOT tests13 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 78,677 MOT tests1314 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 66,178 MOT tests15 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 59,517 MOT tests1516 years: 2.2 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 56,401 MOT tests17 years: 3.2 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 51,777 MOT tests1718 years: 4.1 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 43,299 MOT tests19 years: 4.4 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 33,764 MOT tests1920 years: 4.5 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 24,530 MOT tests21 years: 3.7 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 15,883 MOT tests2122 years: 3.0 per 100 (all cars 4.0), 9,238 MOT tests23 years: 2.5 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 5,618 MOT tests2324 years: 2.5 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 4,160 MOT tests25 years: 1.8 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 3,584 MOT tests25
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Mercedes-Benz C-Class All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
349,1030.00.1
472,9560.00.2
5105,9760.00.3
6133,0320.10.5
7143,2930.10.8
8140,0550.11.2
9124,5420.21.8
10115,4980.22.1
11101,7940.32.5
1290,0930.32.8
1378,6770.42.9
1466,1780.73.2
1559,5171.33.3
1656,4012.23.4
1751,7773.23.6
1843,2994.13.9
19*33,7644.44.1
20*24,5304.54.2
21*15,8833.74.2
22*9,2383.04.0
23*5,6182.53.9
24*4,1602.53.7
25*3,5841.83.7

All first-use years of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the steering at 7 years

Advisories (not fails)

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 2.1 diesel: 0.1 per 100 at 7 years, fails less often than diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (0.1–0.2×) (all test years; 82,969 MOT tests)
  • 1.8 petrol: 3.0 per 100 at 17 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 23,442 MOT tests)
  • 2.0 petrol: 0.1 per 100 at 7 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 26,436 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Play in steering rack inner joint(s).

Check one Mercedes-Benz C-Class, not the average

The figures here describe Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Mercedes-Benz C-Class problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Mercedes-Benz C-Class have more steering problems than other cars?

0.11 to 0.15 times the steering fail rate of all class 4 vehicles the same age at 7 years (all test years), from 143,293 MOT tests. The interval is clear of 0.8 in the same direction at 10 of the 23 ages seen (ages up to 18 with at least 100 MOT tests with a fail).

How common are Mercedes-Benz C-Class steering problems?

0.1 in 100 MOT tests at 7 years failed on steering, against 0.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 143,293 MOT tests).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 1,528,968 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare