1998 Mercedes 208 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

48.9%

Latest Pass Rate

3,983

Total Tests (All Years)

158,004 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 19

This car: 48.9%

Average: 55.4%

⚠️ 6.5% below average (7550 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1998 Mercedes 208 as it ages.

11 yrs40.8%

→ ↓1.1%

12 yrs39.7%

→ ↓0.9%

13 yrs38.8%

→ ↑1.4%

14 yrs40.2%

→ ↓7.0%

15 yrs33.2%

→ ↑9.6%

16 yrs42.8%

→ ↓0.5%

17 yrs42.3%

→ ↑2.4%

18 yrs44.7%

→ ↑4.2%

19 yrs48.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	40.8%	828
12 yrs	39.7%	755
13 yrs	38.8%	667
14 yrs	40.2%	483
15 yrs	33.2%	389
16 yrs	42.8%	325
17 yrs	42.3%	274
18 yrs	44.7%	217
19 yrs	48.9%	45

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Mercedes 208 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (19 yrs)	48.9%	45
2016 (18 yrs)	44.7%	217
2015 (17 yrs)	42.3%	274
2014 (16 yrs)	42.8%	325
2013 (15 yrs)	33.2%	389
2012 (14 yrs)	40.2%	483
2011 (13 yrs)	38.8%	667
2010 (12 yrs)	39.7%	755
2009 (11 yrs)	40.8%	828

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

40.8%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 828Avg Mileage 145,521Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 44.4%

2010High Fail Rate

39.7%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 755Avg Mileage 146,945Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.9%

2011High Fail Rate

38.8%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 667Avg Mileage 152,905Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 45.0%

2012High Fail Rate

40.2%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 483Avg Mileage 152,973Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.2%

2013High Fail Rate

33.2%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 389Avg Mileage 156,362Top Failure Brakes — 149.6%

2014High Fail Rate

42.8%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 325Avg Mileage 153,749Top Failure Brakes — 119.1%

2015High Fail Rate

42.3%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 274Avg Mileage 156,140Top Failure Brakes — 140.1%

2016High Fail Rate

44.7%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 217Avg Mileage 158,441Top Failure Brakes — 120.7%

2017High Fail Rate

48.9%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 45Avg Mileage 158,004Top Failure Brakes — 117.8%

MOT results for 1998 Mercedes 208 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	40.8%	828	145,521	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 44.4%
2010	12	39.7%	755	146,945	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.9%
2011	13	38.8%	667	152,905	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 45.0%
2012	14	40.2%	483	152,973	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.2%
2013	15	33.2%	389	156,362	Brakes — 149.6%
2014	16	42.8%	325	153,749	Brakes — 119.1%
2015	17	42.3%	274	156,140	Brakes — 140.1%
2016	18	44.7%	217	158,441	Brakes — 120.7%
2017	19	48.9%	45	158,004	Brakes — 117.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Mercedes 208, with age trends.

Brakes

90.7%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

73.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

69.5%

— Consistent

Body, Structure and General Items

36.4%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

26.5%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	30.9% (11 yrs)	113.3% (19 yrs)	+82.4%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	41.7% (11 yrs)	117.8% (19 yrs)	+76.1%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	44.4% (11 yrs)	46.7% (19 yrs)	+2.3%	🔴 ↑

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 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 3,983 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.