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MOT reliability

Mercedes-benz S-class

61,121 vehicles · 687,801 completed MOT tests analysed
81%
MOT pass rate

Based on 61,121 Mercedes-benz S-class vehicles and 687,801 completed MOT tests, the Mercedes-benz S-class has an overall 81% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 121,482 miles.

61,121
Vehicles
687,801
MOT tests
9,040
Avg miles / year
1.6
Faults per test
2%
Dangerous-fault share

Mercedes-benz S-class problem areas

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

  • Other75%
  • Tyres, wheels & suspension18%
  • Brakes12%
  • Emissions & nuisance4%
  • Lamps & electrical3%
  • Visibility2%
  • Steering1%
  • Seatbelts & equipment1%

Mercedes-benz S-class pass rate by age

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

Age (years)TestsPass rate
16,30294%
211,35593%
344,97389%
447,32588%
550,41886%
652,39785%
751,79283%
849,62782%
947,89880%
1045,00778%
1141,29977%
1237,43376%
1333,30175%
1429,27075%
1525,27174%
1621,61275%
1717,97674%
1814,98174%
1911,82875%
209,28774%

Fuel types: Diesel (31,363), Petrol (28,347), Hybrid Electric (Clean) (994), LPG (203), Electric Diesel (180), Electric (17), Other (9), Gas Bi-Fuel (7)

Most common Mercedes-benz S-class MOT faults

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

  1. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (27,473 times)
  2. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (26,959 times)
  3. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (17,183 times)
  4. Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (15,912 times)
  5. Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (14,526 times)
  6. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (13,209 times)
  7. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (12,964 times)
  8. Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g) (12,718 times)
  9. Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay (10,503 times)
  10. Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i)) (10,356 times)
  11. Oil leak (10,232 times)
  12. Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) (9,833 times)
  13. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (9,146 times)
  14. Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (9,019 times)
  15. Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g) (8,861 times)

Mercedes-benz S-class pass rate by registration year

YearVehiclesTestsPass rateAvg mileage
2026 1 1 100% 45
2025 2 3 100% 10,218
2024 2 3 100% 28,479
2023 8 9 89% 7,613
2022 12 16 100% 19,525
2021 89 278 91% 46,969
2020 232 1,054 93% 57,385
2019 1,899 12,571 92% 81,873
2018 2,260 15,801 92% 84,171
2017 2,736 20,246 90% 85,253
2016 3,043 23,895 89% 82,675
2015 2,638 23,919 89% 94,402
2014 2,188 21,379 89% 102,789
2013 1,376 15,451 86% 119,265
2012 1,708 20,771 84% 116,848
2011 1,376 17,857 84% 125,384
2010 1,504 19,693 84% 122,986
2009 1,463 21,145 81% 130,316
2008 1,955 27,834 81% 128,508
2007 3,177 43,911 81% 125,028
2006 3,140 41,483 82% 119,823
2005 1,591 25,747 78% 147,688
2004 2,221 36,042 79% 148,758
2003 2,965 46,834 79% 145,165
2002 3,355 47,152 78% 143,817
2001 3,735 48,770 77% 138,833
2000 3,027 38,014 76% 132,443
1999 2,370 27,168 75% 128,977
1998 1,328 14,929 73% 135,669
1997 1,454 13,852 72% 132,814
1996 1,500 13,391 73% 133,033
1995 1,377 10,876 73% 131,579
1994 857 6,471 73% 130,099
1993 386 2,768 71% 133,170
1992 295 2,281 73% 137,425
1991 342 2,868 74% 143,134
1990 419 3,268 75% 148,931
1989 512 3,640 73% 145,270
1988 431 2,802 72% 144,208
1987 394 2,583 70% 145,946
1986 306 1,897 70% 141,175
1985 293 1,713 70% 133,747
1984 222 1,382 72% 123,864
1983 187 1,064 67% 129,443
1982 101 470 68% 119,180
1981 47 283 68% 112,132
1980 46 337 71% 127,428
1979 53 336 69% 108,825
1978 27 200 70% 121,690
1977 20 94 70% 110,640
1976 17 76 74% 132,966
1975 12 84 83% 78,888
1974 16 144 69% 102,366
1973 16 108 72% 63,896
1972 85 564 73% 55,295
1971 86 725 74% 66,865
1970 40 291 78% 66,275
1969 27 138 73% 57,075
1968 26 290 81% 77,102
1967 14 127 82% 49,622
1966 17 98 79% 54,181
1965 25 174 80% 42,879
1964 25 182 81% 48,853
1963 15 90 80% 80,236
1962 9 43 84% 51,530
1961 3 26 77% 24,523
1960 3 32 88% 82,545
1959 5 7 86% 47,595
1958 3 16 81% 34,334
1957 4 30 67% 60,422
1956 1 3 100% 12,716

Mercedes-benz S-class reliability FAQ

Across 61,121 Mercedes-benz S-class vehicles in our MOT data, 81% pass the MOT (a 19% failure rate), with about 1.6 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Mercedes-benz S-class MOT issues are: 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); Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1).

The typical Mercedes-benz S-class in our data has covered around 121,482 miles.

Compare the Mercedes-benz S-class

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

S-class vs C S-class vs E S-class vs Sprinter S-class vs A-class

Check a specific Mercedes-benz S-class

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