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MOT reliability

Mercedes-benz Sl

34,943 vehicles · 526,317 completed MOT tests analysed
83%
MOT pass rate

Based on 34,943 Mercedes-benz Sl vehicles and 526,317 completed MOT tests, the Mercedes-benz Sl has an overall 83% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 79,443 miles.

34,943
Vehicles
526,317
MOT tests
3,029
Avg miles / year
1.3
Faults per test
2%
Dangerous-fault share

Mercedes-benz Sl problem areas

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

  • Other69%
  • Tyres, wheels & suspension20%
  • Brakes13%
  • Emissions & nuisance4%
  • Lamps & electrical3%
  • Steering3%
  • Visibility2%
  • Seatbelts & equipment1%

Mercedes-benz Sl pass rate by age

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

Age (years)TestsPass rate
117778%
267088%
320,38890%
422,06889%
522,56488%
623,65387%
724,22187%
825,24886%
925,97184%
1026,16984%
1126,32183%
1225,77783%
1324,48482%
1423,28582%
1522,53782%
1621,57782%
1720,56682%
1819,50682%
1918,18482%
2016,80782%

Fuel types: Petrol (34,863), Diesel (61), LPG (16), Other (1), Gas Bi-Fuel (1), Electric (1)

Most common Mercedes-benz Sl MOT faults

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

  1. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (14,549 times)
  2. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (14,320 times)
  3. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (9,867 times)
  4. Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (9,414 times)
  5. Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (8,632 times)
  6. Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i)) (8,367 times)
  7. Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c)) (6,659 times)
  8. Oil leak (6,195 times)
  9. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (6,136 times)
  10. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (6,055 times)
  11. Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g) (5,977 times)
  12. Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay (5,876 times)
  13. Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c)) (5,382 times)
  14. Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (4,470 times)
  15. Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c) (4,362 times)

Mercedes-benz Sl pass rate by registration year

YearVehiclesTestsPass rateAvg mileage
2023 1 2 100% 6,158
2022 1 2 100% 18,565
2021 5 13 62% 81,357
2020 7 19 95% 25,599
2019 353 1,714 93% 25,148
2018 418 2,493 92% 30,278
2017 696 4,835 92% 35,595
2016 838 6,501 90% 40,429
2015 907 7,880 90% 44,476
2014 1,191 11,587 89% 50,605
2013 1,237 13,673 87% 51,832
2012 475 5,571 87% 52,298
2011 297 3,824 88% 54,865
2010 427 5,953 86% 61,609
2009 609 8,737 86% 62,416
2008 965 15,108 86% 67,171
2007 1,008 16,831 86% 73,630
2006 1,102 19,082 85% 77,996
2005 1,613 28,987 85% 80,125
2004 2,881 53,008 85% 81,218
2003 4,021 75,684 84% 79,761
2002 1,965 35,201 82% 80,635
2001 507 8,734 85% 78,210
2000 810 14,945 83% 90,048
1999 960 17,051 83% 85,449
1998 1,317 22,918 82% 96,223
1997 1,290 22,409 82% 99,178
1996 1,178 19,173 82% 103,652
1995 1,122 18,369 81% 106,041
1994 1,045 15,620 80% 104,163
1993 481 6,612 79% 103,077
1992 401 5,157 80% 104,727
1991 438 5,392 81% 99,544
1990 324 3,890 79% 101,417
1989 291 4,583 79% 94,101
1988 259 4,057 81% 92,838
1987 252 3,510 79% 94,880
1986 281 4,154 78% 100,728
1985 391 5,656 78% 102,988
1984 375 5,277 77% 105,797
1983 331 4,243 76% 108,213
1982 196 2,208 74% 101,615
1981 222 2,268 73% 105,333
1980 258 2,651 72% 97,842
1979 164 1,547 73% 100,190
1978 96 925 73% 120,740
1977 62 411 72% 112,659
1976 49 394 74% 98,264
1975 32 263 69% 115,666
1974 26 232 73% 132,405
1973 67 642 71% 102,011
1972 78 750 74% 97,296
1971 73 716 74% 93,430
1970 82 850 79% 61,532
1969 95 950 78% 50,145
1968 84 770 81% 55,552
1967 56 430 81% 51,225
1966 50 493 77% 68,589
1965 46 460 78% 59,449
1964 41 335 75% 55,207
1963 9 90 89% 55,636
1962 15 86 84% 74,139
1961 9 53 77% 50,905
1960 18 139 82% 46,312
1959 7 18 89% 60,585
1958 16 67 87% 55,102
1957 7 44 93% 77,883
1956 4 23 96% 29,804
1955 9 49 96% 53,017
1954 2 6 100% 34,904

Mercedes-benz Sl reliability FAQ

Across 34,943 Mercedes-benz Sl vehicles in our MOT data, 83% pass the MOT (a 17% failure rate), with about 1.3 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Mercedes-benz Sl 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 Sl in our data has covered around 79,443 miles.

Compare the Mercedes-benz Sl

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

Sl vs C Sl vs E Sl vs Sprinter Sl vs A-class

Check a specific Mercedes-benz Sl

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