1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

76.5%

Latest Pass Rate

457

Total Tests (All Years)

86,970 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 as it ages.

36 yrs70.9%

→ ↑0.5%

37 yrs71.4%

→ ↑11.1%

38 yrs82.5%

→ ↓2.5%

39 yrs80.0%

→ ↓11.6%

40 yrs68.4%

→ ↑9.2%

41 yrs77.6%

→ ↓1.1%

42 yrs76.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
36 yrs	70.9%	103
37 yrs	71.4%	77
38 yrs	82.5%	63
39 yrs	80.0%	55
40 yrs	68.4%	76
41 yrs	77.6%	49
42 yrs	76.5%	34

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2023 (42 yrs)	76.5%	34
2022 (41 yrs)	77.6%	49
2021 (40 yrs)	68.4%	76
2020 (39 yrs)	80%	55
2019 (38 yrs)	82.5%	63
2018 (37 yrs)	71.4%	77
2017 (36 yrs)	70.9%	103

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2017

70.9%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 103Avg Mileage 97,242Top Failure Body, Structure and General Items — 32.0%

2018

71.4%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 77Avg Mileage 92,868Top Failure Suspension — 26.0%

2019

82.5%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 63Avg Mileage 94,157Top Failure Suspension — 28.6%

2020

80.0%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 55Avg Mileage 93,024Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 34.5%

2021

68.4%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 76Avg Mileage 90,973Top Failure Suspension — 30.3%

2022

77.6%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 49Avg Mileage 88,397Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 26.5%

2023

76.5%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 34Avg Mileage 86,970Top Failure Body, chassis, structure — 47.1%

MOT results for 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2017	36	70.9%	103	97,242	Body, Structure and General Items — 32.0%
2018	37	71.4%	77	92,868	Suspension — 26.0%
2019	38	82.5%	63	94,157	Suspension — 28.6%
2020	39	80.0%	55	93,024	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 34.5%
2021	40	68.4%	76	90,973	Suspension — 30.3%
2022	41	77.6%	49	88,397	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 26.5%
2023	42	76.5%	34	86,970	Body, chassis, structure — 47.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

28.2%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

26.8%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

25.4%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

24.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

22.4%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	30.1% (36 yrs)	11.8% (42 yrs)	-18.3%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	20.4% (36 yrs)	35.3% (42 yrs)	+14.9%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985

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About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes-Benz 380 cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2017 to 2023, covering 457 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.