1996 Mercedes 308 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

46.7%

Latest Pass Rate

3,951

Total Tests (All Years)

177,287 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 1996 Mercedes 308 as it ages.

13 yrs38.0%

→ ↓0.1%

14 yrs37.9%

→ ↓0.9%

15 yrs37.0%

→ ↓2.0%

16 yrs35.0%

→ ↑4.8%

17 yrs39.8%

→ ↑2.4%

18 yrs42.2%

→ ↑1.4%

19 yrs43.6%

→ ↑4.7%

20 yrs48.3%

→ ↓1.6%

21 yrs46.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	38.0%	929
14 yrs	37.9%	829
15 yrs	37.0%	659
16 yrs	35.0%	480
17 yrs	39.8%	367
18 yrs	42.2%	263
19 yrs	43.6%	220
20 yrs	48.3%	174
21 yrs	46.7%	30

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 Mercedes 308 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (21 yrs)	46.7%	30
2016 (20 yrs)	48.3%	174
2015 (19 yrs)	43.6%	220
2014 (18 yrs)	42.2%	263
2013 (17 yrs)	39.8%	367
2012 (16 yrs)	35%	480
2011 (15 yrs)	37%	659
2010 (14 yrs)	37.9%	829
2009 (13 yrs)	38%	929

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

38.0%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 929Avg Mileage 177,775Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.6%

2010High Fail Rate

37.9%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 829Avg Mileage 181,618Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.6%

2011High Fail Rate

37.0%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 659Avg Mileage 186,249Top Failure Brakes — 50.1%

2012High Fail Rate

35.0%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 480Avg Mileage 181,416Top Failure Brakes — 49.8%

2013High Fail Rate

39.8%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 367Avg Mileage 177,935Top Failure Brakes — 158.0%

2014High Fail Rate

42.2%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 263Avg Mileage 174,836Top Failure Brakes — 144.1%

2015High Fail Rate

43.6%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 220Avg Mileage 173,392Top Failure Brakes — 144.1%

2016High Fail Rate

48.3%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 174Avg Mileage 173,469Top Failure Brakes — 133.9%

2017High Fail Rate

46.7%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 30Avg Mileage 177,287Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 130.0%

MOT results for 1996 Mercedes 308 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	38.0%	929	177,775	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.6%
2010	14	37.9%	829	181,618	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.6%
2011	15	37.0%	659	186,249	Brakes — 50.1%
2012	16	35.0%	480	181,416	Brakes — 49.8%
2013	17	39.8%	367	177,935	Brakes — 158.0%
2014	18	42.2%	263	174,836	Brakes — 144.1%
2015	19	43.6%	220	173,392	Brakes — 144.1%
2016	20	48.3%	174	173,469	Brakes — 133.9%
2017	21	46.7%	30	177,287	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 130.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 Mercedes 308, with age trends.

Brakes

99.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

84.7%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

68.3%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

38.2%

— Consistent

Driver's View of the Road

22.9%

↑ 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
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	47.6% (13 yrs)	130.0% (21 yrs)	+82.4%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	47.1% (13 yrs)	126.7% (21 yrs)	+79.6%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	36.3% (13 yrs)	76.7% (21 yrs)	+40.4%	🔴 ↑
Driver's View of the Road	19.8% (13 yrs)	33.3% (21 yrs)	+13.5%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

← Back to Mercedes 308 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes 308 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 308 cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 3,951 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.