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Mercedes-Benz E-Class steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 88,280 MOT tests · Updated

At 6 years, 0.1 in 100 MOT tests of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class failed on steering, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 88,280 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 68 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 23 ages from 3 to 25 years, 964,062 MOT tests
  • MOT tests at 6 years: 88,280 for the Mercedes-Benz E-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 6 years, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 6 (all test years). That is about average.

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 E-Class steering fails by age

Mercedes-Benz E-Class steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.0243 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 43,819 MOT tests34 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 62,842 MOT tests5 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 77,953 MOT tests56 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 88,280 MOT tests7 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 87,925 MOT tests78 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 86,678 MOT tests9 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 83,152 MOT tests910 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 76,966 MOT tests11 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 69,026 MOT tests1112 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 60,494 MOT tests13 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 47,985 MOT tests1314 years: 1.1 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 37,094 MOT tests15 years: 1.9 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 29,281 MOT tests1516 years: 3.0 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 21,842 MOT tests17 years: 3.2 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 19,543 MOT tests1718 years: 3.5 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 19,574 MOT tests19 years: 3.3 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 16,928 MOT tests1920 years: 3.3 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 12,942 MOT tests21 years: 2.8 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 8,833 MOT tests2122 years: 2.4 per 100 (all cars 4.0), 5,245 MOT tests23 years: 1.9 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 3,000 MOT tests2324 years: 1.4 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 2,581 MOT tests25 years: 1.2 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 2,079 MOT tests25
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Mercedes-Benz E-Class All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
343,8190.00.1
462,8420.00.2
577,9530.00.3
688,2800.10.5
787,9250.10.8
886,6780.11.2
983,1520.11.8
1076,9660.22.1
1169,0260.22.5
1260,4940.22.8
1347,9850.52.9
1437,0941.13.2
1529,2811.93.3
1621,8423.03.4
1719,5433.23.6
1819,5743.53.9
19*16,9283.34.1
20*12,9423.34.2
21*8,8332.84.2
22*5,2452.44.0
23*3,0001.93.9
24*2,5811.43.7
25*2,0791.23.7

All first-use years of the Mercedes-Benz E-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 6 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: 0.0 per 100 at 6 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 8,540 MOT tests)
  • 2.0 diesel: 0.1 per 100 at 6 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 59,566 MOT tests)
  • 3.0 diesel: 0.0 per 100 at 6 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 5,449 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 E-Class, not the average

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

Other Mercedes-Benz E-Class problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

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

0.1 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 88,280 MOT tests).

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

0.1 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years failed on steering, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 88,280 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, 964,062 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