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MOT reliability

Mercedes-benz 500

4,340 vehicles · 45,771 completed MOT tests analysed
77%
MOT pass rate

Based on 4,340 Mercedes-benz 500 vehicles and 45,771 completed MOT tests, the Mercedes-benz 500 has an overall 77% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 125,366 miles.

4,340
Vehicles
45,771
MOT tests
2,240
Avg miles / year
1.8
Faults per test
1%
Dangerous-fault share

Mercedes-benz 500 problem areas

Where faults occur most across all Mercedes-benz 500 MOT tests:

  • Other89%
  • Tyres, wheels & suspension9%
  • Brakes8%
  • Emissions & nuisance5%
  • Seatbelts & equipment4%
  • Steering4%
  • Lamps & electrical2%
  • Body & structure2%

Mercedes-benz 500 pass rate by age

How the Mercedes-benz 500's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).

Age (years)TestsPass rate
1367%
23100%
32085%
43187%
54386%
65084%
77981%
88581%
99575%
108078%
1110777%
1216181%
1356976%
1499977%
151,45677%
161,82078%
172,16076%
182,27177%
192,40975%
202,49176%

Fuel types: Petrol (4,315), LPG (13), Diesel (10), Electric (2)

Most common Mercedes-benz 500 MOT faults

These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Mercedes-benz 500 MOT tests:

  1. Oil leak (1,630 times)
  2. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (1,189 times)
  3. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (1,143 times)
  4. Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (936 times)
  5. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (901 times)
  6. Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (854 times)
  7. Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i)) (846 times)
  8. Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (772 times)
  9. Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (731 times)
  10. Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a) (559 times)
  11. Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (552 times)
  12. Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a) (551 times)
  13. Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a) (537 times)
  14. Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) (522 times)
  15. Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2) (478 times)

Mercedes-benz 500 pass rate by registration year

YearVehiclesTestsPass rateAvg mileage
2021 2 3 100% 29,440
2018 1 5 100% 12,491
2017 1 6 100% 63,380
2016 1 5 100% 66,106
2015 1 7 100% 24,839
2014 2 16 81% 77,726
2011 2 23 91% 80,054
2010 4 25 76% 56,723
2008 3 8 100% 70,776
2007 2 7 86% 77,852
2006 3 20 60% 61,530
2005 5 25 88% 69,191
2004 3 34 91% 81,545
2003 16 213 78% 86,939
2002 17 145 83% 84,448
2001 4 51 84% 79,388
2000 15 166 78% 117,542
1999 17 207 80% 119,290
1998 14 216 70% 134,333
1997 8 75 88% 95,922
1996 8 71 86% 84,228
1995 12 102 75% 96,740
1994 28 299 78% 119,278
1993 333 3,583 77% 120,535
1992 469 4,718 78% 127,041
1991 484 5,649 80% 122,513
1990 501 5,384 78% 122,881
1989 424 4,827 77% 141,912
1988 366 4,056 77% 136,489
1987 280 3,355 75% 122,209
1986 278 2,905 74% 133,353
1985 404 3,878 74% 124,911
1984 200 1,848 75% 121,491
1983 189 1,764 74% 118,678
1982 146 1,167 71% 114,558
1981 74 734 72% 112,890
1980 19 152 74% 130,925
1979 1 1 100% 239,017
1978 1 5 60% 128,134
1974 1 5 60% 107,577
1971 1 11 55% 160,345

Mercedes-benz 500 reliability FAQ

Across 4,340 Mercedes-benz 500 vehicles in our MOT data, 77% pass the MOT (a 23% failure rate), with about 1.8 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Mercedes-benz 500 MOT issues are: Oil leak; Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1); Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1).

The typical Mercedes-benz 500 in our data has covered around 125,366 miles.

Compare the Mercedes-benz 500

See how the Mercedes-benz 500 stacks up against other Mercedes-benz models on MOT reliability:

500 vs C 500 vs E 500 vs Sprinter 500 vs A-class

Check a specific Mercedes-benz 500

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