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MOT reliability

Mercedes-benz 280

5,912 vehicles · 54,399 completed MOT tests analysed
73%
MOT pass rate

Based on 5,912 Mercedes-benz 280 vehicles and 54,399 completed MOT tests, the Mercedes-benz 280 has an overall 73% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 109,084 miles.

5,912
Vehicles
54,399
MOT tests
2,628
Avg miles / year
2
Faults per test
1%
Dangerous-fault share

Mercedes-benz 280 problem areas

Where faults occur most across all Mercedes-benz 280 MOT tests:

  • Other87%
  • Tyres, wheels & suspension8%
  • Brakes7%
  • Emissions & nuisance5%
  • Seatbelts & equipment5%
  • Steering4%
  • Body & structure3%
  • Lamps & electrical2%

Mercedes-benz 280 pass rate by age

How the Mercedes-benz 280's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).

Age (years)TestsPass rate
113578%
213282%
321579%
419088%
520380%
623675%
724881%
831279%
937574%
1037376%
1135377%
1254273%
131,00475%
1498273%
1583772%
1679870%
1774571%
1877270%
1977369%
2095667%

Fuel types: Petrol (5,684), Diesel (214), LPG (12), Electric (1), Gas (1)

Most common Mercedes-benz 280 MOT faults

These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Mercedes-benz 280 MOT tests:

  1. Oil leak (2,151 times)
  2. Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i)) (1,313 times)
  3. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (1,096 times)
  4. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (973 times)
  5. Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (909 times)
  6. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (882 times)
  7. Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) (876 times)
  8. Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2) (845 times)
  9. Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a) (834 times)
  10. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3) (752 times)
  11. Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (717 times)
  12. Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (655 times)
  13. Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2) (645 times)
  14. Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (642 times)
  15. Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (640 times)

Mercedes-benz 280 pass rate by registration year

YearVehiclesTestsPass rateAvg mileage
2022 1 2 100% 98,075
2021 2 5 60% 41,082
2020 8 12 91% 40,128
2019 11 23 87% 35,470
2018 9 13 85% 45,940
2017 5 13 85% 31,891
2016 29 83 84% 47,047
2015 24 107 82% 52,296
2014 9 54 80% 66,675
2013 10 56 91% 40,267
2012 8 63 76% 57,306
2011 10 66 80% 48,956
2010 10 63 78% 57,385
2009 22 234 79% 96,288
2008 30 321 78% 102,636
2007 36 433 80% 122,362
2006 37 423 77% 132,428
2005 26 327 76% 141,925
2004 23 260 73% 121,961
2003 10 106 77% 116,169
2002 19 278 77% 107,133
2001 12 159 71% 83,347
2000 29 304 74% 122,279
1999 31 338 73% 116,054
1998 53 488 70% 118,987
1997 51 491 77% 120,900
1996 33 254 74% 157,430
1995 38 307 73% 152,386
1994 49 400 73% 138,216
1993 530 4,018 72% 148,490
1992 91 766 74% 141,866
1991 9 162 68% 128,745
1990 42 677 71% 90,091
1989 96 1,223 67% 66,008
1988 120 1,194 68% 71,718
1987 105 1,104 65% 85,911
1986 106 794 68% 105,044
1985 717 7,630 72% 125,921
1984 646 6,560 73% 126,141
1983 673 6,469 72% 121,427
1982 429 3,957 73% 116,383
1981 309 2,814 73% 106,954
1980 214 1,610 71% 110,880
1979 108 573 71% 102,913
1978 77 461 72% 109,228
1977 41 246 71% 105,712
1976 26 141 71% 93,901
1975 34 214 72% 67,081
1974 30 174 78% 58,452
1973 82 606 71% 67,068
1972 154 1,226 76% 61,301
1971 145 1,108 78% 64,729
1970 182 1,905 79% 56,651
1969 173 1,694 82% 63,510
1968 134 1,369 79% 54,132
1967 1 3 67% 28,433
1966 1 2 50% 54,147
1965 1 14 64% 32,864
1964 1 4 100% 19,034

Mercedes-benz 280 reliability FAQ

Across 5,912 Mercedes-benz 280 vehicles in our MOT data, 73% pass the MOT (a 27% failure rate), with about 2 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Mercedes-benz 280 MOT issues are: Oil leak; Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i)); Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1).

The typical Mercedes-benz 280 in our data has covered around 109,084 miles.

Compare the Mercedes-benz 280

See how the Mercedes-benz 280 stacks up against other Mercedes-benz models on MOT reliability:

280 vs C 280 vs E 280 vs Sprinter 280 vs A-class

Check a specific Mercedes-benz 280

Enter a registration to see that exact vehicle's full MOT history, advisories and recurring faults.

See all Mercedes-benz models · Learn about common MOT failures · what an MOT checks