2003 Mercedes-Benz S Class MOT Pass Rate
Pass rate for S Class models manufactured in 2003, based on 3,465 real MOT test results.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
This page shows all S Class cars tested in 2003. Want to see how cars built in 2003 hold up over time?
View 2003 Mercedes-Benz S Class vintage page → (76.7% current pass rate)2003 Mercedes-Benz S Class MOT Analysis
The 2003 Mercedes-Benz S Class has an MOT pass rate of 72.4% based on 3,465 tests — above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 124,158 miles on the odometer. With a 27.6% failure rate, the 2003 S Class is rated as "Very Good" for MOT reliability.
The leading cause of MOT failure for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz S Class is Brakes, responsible for 7.5% of failures. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs range from £150–400. Suspension is the second most common issue at 5.4%. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment follows at 4.6%.
Top failures specific to 2003 models only. The overall S Class page may show different rankings.
What Fails Most
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 7.5% | 260 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.4% | 188 |
| 3 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 4.6% | 159 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.2% | 111 |
| 5 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 1.7% | 58 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.6% | 55 |
| 7 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 1.2% | 40 |
| 8 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 1.1% | 39 |
| 9 | Non-component Advisories | 1.0% | 34 |
| 10 | Steering | 0.7% | 25 |
| 11 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.3% | 10 |
| 12 | Road Wheels | 0.1% | 5 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 124,158 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 0.60 | 7.5% | 260 |
| Suspension | 0.44 | 5.4% | 188 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.37 | 4.6% | 159 |
| Tyres | 0.26 | 3.2% | 111 |
| Body & Structure | 0.13 | 1.7% | 58 |
| Visibility | 0.13 | 1.6% | 55 |
| Seat Belts | 0.09 | 1.2% | 40 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.09 | 1.1% | 39 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.08 | 1.0% | 34 |
| Steering | 0.06 | 0.7% | 25 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.02 | 0.3% | 10 |
| Wheels | 0.01 | 0.1% | 5 |
Mileage Statistics
Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.
About This Data
The 2003 Mercedes-Benz S Class has an MOT pass rate of 72.4% based on 3,465 tests — above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 124,158 miles on the odometer. With a 27.6% failure rate, the 2003 S Class is rated as "Very Good" for MOT reliability.
If you own or are considering buying a 2003 Mercedes-Benz S Class, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to brakes: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm). With an average mileage of 124,158 miles, these vehicles are in the higher-mileage bracket where wear-related failures become more common.
Brakes — 7.5% of failures
Brakes issues account for 7.5% of MOT failures on 2003 Mercedes-Benz S Class models. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Suspension — 5.4% of failures
Suspension issues account for 5.4% of MOT failures on 2003 Mercedes-Benz S Class models. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 4.6% of failures
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 4.6% of MOT failures on 2003 Mercedes-Benz S Class models. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.