1996 Mercedes 208 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

45.4%

Latest Pass Rate

4,193

Total Tests (All Years)

154,357 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 20

This car: 45.4%

Average: 56.6%

⚠️ 11.2% below average (6824 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1996 Mercedes 208 as it ages.

13 yrs38.5%

→ ↑3.1%

14 yrs41.6%

→ ↓2.1%

15 yrs39.5%

→ ↓0.2%

16 yrs39.3%

→ ↑0.9%

17 yrs40.2%

→ ↑5.6%

18 yrs45.8%

→ ↑0.9%

19 yrs46.7%

→ ↓1.3%

20 yrs45.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	38.5%	1,116
14 yrs	41.6%	939
15 yrs	39.5%	709
16 yrs	39.3%	466
17 yrs	40.2%	328
18 yrs	45.8%	262
19 yrs	46.7%	199
20 yrs	45.4%	174

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 Mercedes 208 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (20 yrs)	45.4%	174
2015 (19 yrs)	46.7%	199
2014 (18 yrs)	45.8%	262
2013 (17 yrs)	40.2%	328
2012 (16 yrs)	39.3%	466
2011 (15 yrs)	39.5%	709
2010 (14 yrs)	41.6%	939
2009 (13 yrs)	38.5%	1,116

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

38.5%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,116Avg Mileage 159,473Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.4%

2010High Fail Rate

41.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 939Avg Mileage 160,094Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 45.4%

2011High Fail Rate

39.5%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 709Avg Mileage 159,685Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.5%

2012High Fail Rate

39.3%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 466Avg Mileage 158,401Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.2%

2013High Fail Rate

40.2%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 328Avg Mileage 154,504Top Failure Brakes — 114.3%

2014High Fail Rate

45.8%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 262Avg Mileage 152,515Top Failure Brakes — 125.6%

2015High Fail Rate

46.7%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 199Avg Mileage 158,438Top Failure Brakes — 104.5%

2016High Fail Rate

45.4%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 174Avg Mileage 154,357Top Failure Suspension — 116.7%

MOT results for 1996 Mercedes 208 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	38.5%	1,116	159,473	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.4%
2010	14	41.6%	939	160,094	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 45.4%
2011	15	39.5%	709	159,685	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.5%
2012	16	39.3%	466	158,401	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.2%
2013	17	40.2%	328	154,504	Brakes — 114.3%
2014	18	45.8%	262	152,515	Brakes — 125.6%
2015	19	46.7%	199	158,438	Brakes — 104.5%
2016	20	45.4%	174	154,357	Suspension — 116.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 Mercedes 208, with age trends.

Brakes

76.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

67.8%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

67.0%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

28.7%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

22.0%

↑ 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	32.3% (13 yrs)	116.7% (20 yrs)	+84.4%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	43.0% (13 yrs)	101.7% (20 yrs)	+58.7%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	48.4% (13 yrs)	85.6% (20 yrs)	+37.2%	🔴 ↑
Driver's View of the Road	17.3% (13 yrs)	26.4% (20 yrs)	+9.1%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

← Back to Mercedes 208 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes 208 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 208 cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 4,193 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.