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Mercedes-Benz S-Class steering problems

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

At 6 years, 0.0 in 100 MOT tests of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class failed on steering, against 0.5 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), 2 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 20 ages from 4 to 23 years, 102,527 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

0.0 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 S-Class steering fails by age

Mercedes-Benz S-Class steering 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.0244 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 6,757 MOT tests45 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 8,358 MOT tests6 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 10,214 MOT tests67 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 9,775 MOT tests8 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 9,073 MOT tests89 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 7,642 MOT tests10 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 6,202 MOT tests1011 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 4,903 MOT tests12 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 4,192 MOT tests1213 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 4,061 MOT tests14 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 3,924 MOT tests1415 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 4,369 MOT tests16 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 4,557 MOT tests1617 years: 1.4 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 4,001 MOT tests18 years: 1.4 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 3,665 MOT tests1819 years: 1.8 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 3,100 MOT tests20 years: 2.3 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 2,470 MOT tests2021 years: 1.7 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 2,170 MOT tests22 years: 2.4 per 100 (all cars 4.0), 1,776 MOT tests2223 years: 1.9 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 1,318 MOT tests
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
46,7570.00.2
58,3580.00.3
610,2140.00.5
79,7750.10.8
89,0730.01.2
97,6420.11.8
106,2020.22.1
114,9030.22.5
124,1920.72.8
134,0610.52.9
143,9240.63.2
154,3690.83.3
164,5571.03.4
174,0011.43.6
183,6651.43.9
19*3,1001.84.1
20*2,4702.34.2
21*2,1701.74.2
22*1,7762.44.0
23*1,3181.93.9

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 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
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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 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

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

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

0.0 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; 10,214 MOT tests).

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

0.0 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years failed on steering, against 0.5 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