1988 Mercedes 190 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age

38 years

Current Age

56.7%

Latest Pass Rate

1,421

Total Tests (All Years)

131,023 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 1988 Mercedes 190 as it ages.

21 yrs56.1%

→ ↑5.0%

22 yrs61.1%

→ ↓5.6%

23 yrs55.5%

→ ↑5.3%

24 yrs60.8%

→ ↑2.0%

25 yrs62.8%

→ ↑0.8%

26 yrs63.6%

→ ↑3.1%

27 yrs66.7%

→ ↓3.1%

28 yrs63.6%

→ ↓6.9%

29 yrs56.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
21 yrs	56.1%	326
22 yrs	61.1%	262
23 yrs	55.5%	211
24 yrs	60.8%	158
25 yrs	62.8%	137
26 yrs	63.6%	110
27 yrs	66.7%	99
28 yrs	63.6%	88
29 yrs	56.7%	30

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1988 Mercedes 190 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (29 yrs)	56.7%	30
2016 (28 yrs)	63.6%	88
2015 (27 yrs)	66.7%	99
2014 (26 yrs)	63.6%	110
2013 (25 yrs)	62.8%	137
2012 (24 yrs)	60.8%	158
2011 (23 yrs)	55.5%	211
2010 (22 yrs)	61.1%	262
2009 (21 yrs)	56.1%	326

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

56.1%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 326Avg Mileage 129,215Top Failure Suspension — 21.2%

2010High Fail Rate

61.1%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 262Avg Mileage 132,739Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.5%

2011High Fail Rate

55.5%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 211Avg Mileage 130,734Top Failure Suspension — 23.7%

2012High Fail Rate

60.8%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 158Avg Mileage 125,557Top Failure Brakes — 20.9%

2013High Fail Rate

62.8%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 137Avg Mileage 129,974Top Failure Brakes — 50.4%

2014High Fail Rate

63.6%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 110Avg Mileage 133,788Top Failure Brakes — 43.6%

2015

66.7%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 99Avg Mileage 131,273Top Failure Brakes — 38.4%

2016High Fail Rate

63.6%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 88Avg Mileage 130,991Top Failure Suspension — 50.0%

2017High Fail Rate

56.7%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 30Avg Mileage 131,023Top Failure Suspension — 150.0%

MOT results for 1988 Mercedes 190 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	21	56.1%	326	129,215	Suspension — 21.2%
2010	22	61.1%	262	132,739	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.5%
2011	23	55.5%	211	130,734	Suspension — 23.7%
2012	24	60.8%	158	125,557	Brakes — 20.9%
2013	25	62.8%	137	129,974	Brakes — 50.4%
2014	26	63.6%	110	133,788	Brakes — 43.6%
2015	27	66.7%	99	131,273	Brakes — 38.4%
2016	28	63.6%	88	130,991	Suspension — 50.0%
2017	29	56.7%	30	131,023	Suspension — 150.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1988 Mercedes 190, with age trends.

Suspension

44.9%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

36.2%

↑ Increases with age

Seat Belts and Supplementary Restraint Systems

33.3%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

25.5%

↑ Increases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

18.8%

↑ 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
Suspension	21.2% (21 yrs)	150.0% (29 yrs)	+128.8%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	19.9% (21 yrs)	83.3% (29 yrs)	+63.4%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	18.7% (21 yrs)	26.7% (29 yrs)	+8.0%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	19.6% (21 yrs)	23.3% (29 yrs)	+3.7%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1960 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

← Back to Mercedes 190 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes 190 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 190 cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 1,421 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.