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Mercedes-Benz S-Class body and structure problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 10,214 MOT tests · Updated

At 6 years, 0.2 in 100 MOT tests of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class failed on body and structure, against 0.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 10,214 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), 17 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 21 ages from 3 to 23 years, 107,268 MOT tests
  • MOT tests at 6 years: 10,214 for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class

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

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.2 fails per 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.8 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 6 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A body and structure fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.

What to check

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class body and structure fails by age

Mercedes-Benz S-Class body and structure fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.05103 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 4,741 MOT tests34 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 6,757 MOT tests5 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 8,358 MOT tests56 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 10,214 MOT tests7 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 1.3), 9,775 MOT tests78 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 9,073 MOT tests9 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 2.3), 7,642 MOT tests910 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 6,202 MOT tests11 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 3.5), 4,903 MOT tests1112 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 4.3), 4,192 MOT tests13 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 5.0), 4,061 MOT tests1314 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 5.9), 3,924 MOT tests15 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 6.7), 4,369 MOT tests1516 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 7.6), 4,557 MOT tests17 years: 1.6 per 100 (all cars 8.3), 4,001 MOT tests1718 years: 1.4 per 100 (all cars 8.7), 3,665 MOT tests19 years: 1.8 per 100 (all cars 9.0), 3,100 MOT tests1920 years: 2.7 per 100 (all cars 9.2), 2,470 MOT tests21 years: 3.3 per 100 (all cars 9.3), 2,170 MOT tests2122 years: 4.0 per 100 (all cars 9.4), 1,776 MOT tests23 years: 5.4 per 100 (all cars 9.5), 1,318 MOT tests23
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Mercedes-Benz S-Class All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
34,7410.10.3
46,7570.00.3
58,3580.00.5
610,2140.20.8
79,7750.21.3
89,0730.21.8
97,6420.32.3
106,2020.42.9
114,9030.43.5
124,1920.84.3
134,0611.05.0
143,9241.05.9
154,3691.36.7
164,5571.37.6
174,0011.68.3
183,6651.48.7
19*3,1001.89.0
20*2,4702.79.2
21*2,1703.39.3
22*1,7764.09.4
23*1,3185.49.5

All first-use years of the Mercedes-Benz S-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 body and structure 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
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How to check on a test drive

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Flexible couplings: slightly deteriorated.

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

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

Other Mercedes-Benz S-Class problems

Body and structure on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Mercedes-Benz S-Class have more body and structure problems than other cars?

0.2 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 10,214 MOT tests).

How common are Mercedes-Benz S-Class body and structure problems?

0.2 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years failed on body and structure, against 0.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 10,214 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, 107,268 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