1997 Mercedes 208 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

52.1%

Latest Pass Rate

4,584

Total Tests (All Years)

154,623 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 20

This car: 52.1%

Average: 56.6%

⚠️ 4.5% below average (6824 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Mercedes 208 as it ages.

12 yrs41.3%

→ ↓0.3%

13 yrs41.0%

→ ↓4.1%

14 yrs36.9%

→ ↑1.1%

15 yrs38.0%

→ ↑3.9%

16 yrs41.9%

→ ↓1.1%

17 yrs40.8%

→ ↑3.6%

18 yrs44.4%

→ ↑11.0%

19 yrs55.4%

→ ↓3.3%

20 yrs52.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	41.3%	1,078
13 yrs	41.0%	930
14 yrs	36.9%	758
15 yrs	38.0%	548
16 yrs	41.9%	430
17 yrs	40.8%	331
18 yrs	44.4%	257
19 yrs	55.4%	204
20 yrs	52.1%	48

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes 208 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (20 yrs)	52.1%	48
2016 (19 yrs)	55.4%	204
2015 (18 yrs)	44.4%	257
2014 (17 yrs)	40.8%	331
2013 (16 yrs)	41.9%	430
2012 (15 yrs)	38%	548
2011 (14 yrs)	36.9%	758
2010 (13 yrs)	41%	930
2009 (12 yrs)	41.3%	1,078

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

41.3%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 1,078Avg Mileage 153,479Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.9%

2010High Fail Rate

41.0%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 930Avg Mileage 156,388Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 42.6%

2011High Fail Rate

36.9%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 758Avg Mileage 157,004Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.4%

2012High Fail Rate

38.0%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 548Avg Mileage 156,766Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.5%

2013High Fail Rate

41.9%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 430Avg Mileage 155,396Top Failure Brakes — 122.1%

2014High Fail Rate

40.8%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 331Avg Mileage 158,056Top Failure Brakes — 121.8%

2015High Fail Rate

44.4%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 257Avg Mileage 159,665Top Failure Brakes — 116.7%

2016High Fail Rate

55.4%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 204Avg Mileage 154,129Top Failure Brakes — 91.2%

2017High Fail Rate

52.1%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 48Avg Mileage 154,623Top Failure Suspension — 72.9%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes 208 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	41.3%	1,078	153,479	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.9%
2010	13	41.0%	930	156,388	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 42.6%
2011	14	36.9%	758	157,004	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.4%
2012	15	38.0%	548	156,766	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.5%
2013	16	41.9%	430	155,396	Brakes — 122.1%
2014	17	40.8%	331	158,056	Brakes — 121.8%
2015	18	44.4%	257	159,665	Brakes — 116.7%
2016	19	55.4%	204	154,129	Brakes — 91.2%
2017	20	52.1%	48	154,623	Suspension — 72.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes 208, with age trends.

Brakes

76.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

67.8%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

65.1%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

29.8%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

21.3%

↑ 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	31.3% (12 yrs)	72.9% (20 yrs)	+41.6%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	42.1% (12 yrs)	68.8% (20 yrs)	+26.7%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	43.9% (12 yrs)	58.3% (20 yrs)	+14.4%	🔴 ↑

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 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 4,584 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.