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MOT reliability

Mercedes-benz 420

2,336 vehicles · 24,352 completed MOT tests analysed
76%
MOT pass rate

Based on 2,336 Mercedes-benz 420 vehicles and 24,352 completed MOT tests, the Mercedes-benz 420 has an overall 76% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 130,276 miles.

2,336
Vehicles
24,352
MOT tests
2,227
Avg miles / year
1.8
Faults per test
1%
Dangerous-fault share

Mercedes-benz 420 problem areas

Where faults occur most across all Mercedes-benz 420 MOT tests:

  • Other85%
  • Tyres, wheels & suspension10%
  • Brakes7%
  • Emissions & nuisance5%
  • Seatbelts & equipment4%
  • Steering4%
  • Lamps & electrical3%
  • Body & structure2%

Mercedes-benz 420 pass rate by age

How the Mercedes-benz 420's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).

Age (years)TestsPass rate
1967%
2650%
31587%
41776%
52070%
62277%
71989%
83382%
92879%
103574%
114171%
124173%
135366%
149483%
1527575%
1651575%
1794075%
181,39274%
191,72674%
201,76873%

Fuel types: Petrol (2,308), Diesel (22), LPG (6)

Most common Mercedes-benz 420 MOT faults

These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Mercedes-benz 420 MOT tests:

  1. Oil leak (799 times)
  2. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (522 times)
  3. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (508 times)
  4. Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i)) (506 times)
  5. Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a) (446 times)
  6. Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (438 times)
  7. Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) (401 times)
  8. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (394 times)
  9. Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a) (364 times)
  10. Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2) (354 times)
  11. Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (341 times)
  12. Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (331 times)
  13. Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (329 times)
  14. Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (282 times)
  15. Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8) (240 times)

Mercedes-benz 420 pass rate by registration year

YearVehiclesTestsPass rateAvg mileage
2015 3 24 54% 137,512
2013 1 12 67% 96,263
2008 3 45 89% 140,402
2007 5 72 82% 108,985
2006 1 18 83% 103,545
2005 2 34 71% 86,553
2004 2 22 95% 109,532
2003 1 15 53% 279,696
2002 1 3 67% 123,029
2001 2 20 75% 120,227
1999 2 16 94% 86,229
1998 8 91 71% 123,151
1997 4 53 66% 120,069
1996 7 27 63% 130,452
1995 5 25 88% 143,944
1994 5 29 59% 112,916
1993 2 11 73% 103,919
1992 37 334 77% 145,694
1991 128 1,171 74% 146,748
1990 233 1,983 75% 149,254
1989 412 4,385 78% 133,323
1988 535 5,994 75% 130,432
1987 511 5,738 76% 122,726
1986 333 3,467 75% 124,169
1985 4 26 69% 132,024
1984 1 16 56% 169,633
1983 1 2 50% 129,075
1982 2 33 82% 84,775
1981 3 14 71% 124,492
1980 25 227 69% 104,138
1979 27 212 74% 115,064
1978 7 65 65% 117,752
1977 4 39 77% 81,801
1976 2 9 67% 99,895
1975 7 47 68% 99,487
1974 3 31 84% 78,733
1973 3 31 87% 88,886
1972 1 4 75% 71,820
1971 2 4 100% 84,996
1965 1 3 67% 68,203

Mercedes-benz 420 reliability FAQ

Across 2,336 Mercedes-benz 420 vehicles in our MOT data, 76% pass the MOT (a 24% failure rate), with about 1.8 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Mercedes-benz 420 MOT issues are: Oil leak; Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1); Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1).

The typical Mercedes-benz 420 in our data has covered around 130,276 miles.

Compare the Mercedes-benz 420

See how the Mercedes-benz 420 stacks up against other Mercedes-benz models on MOT reliability:

420 vs C 420 vs E 420 vs Sprinter 420 vs A-class

Check a specific Mercedes-benz 420

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