1997 Mercedes 308 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

58.8%

Latest Pass Rate

5,876

Total Tests (All Years)

153,040 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for 308

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Mercedes 308 as it ages.

12 yrs37.2%

→ ↑1.9%

13 yrs39.1%

→ ↓2.5%

14 yrs36.6%

→ ↑0.8%

15 yrs37.4%

→ ↓0.7%

16 yrs36.7%

→ ↑1.4%

17 yrs38.1%

→ ↑5.6%

18 yrs43.7%

→ ↓0.1%

19 yrs43.6%

→ ↑9.4%

20 yrs53.0%

→ ↑4.1%

21 yrs57.1%

→ ↓4.2%

22 yrs52.9%

→ ↑5.9%

23 yrs58.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	37.2%	1,286
13 yrs	39.1%	1,117
14 yrs	36.6%	947
15 yrs	37.4%	687
16 yrs	36.7%	553
17 yrs	38.1%	423
18 yrs	43.7%	348
19 yrs	43.6%	291
20 yrs	53.0%	83
21 yrs	57.1%	56
22 yrs	52.9%	51
23 yrs	58.8%	34

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes 308 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (23 yrs)	58.8%	34
2019 (22 yrs)	52.9%	51
2018 (21 yrs)	57.1%	56
2017 (20 yrs)	53%	83
2016 (19 yrs)	43.6%	291
2015 (18 yrs)	43.7%	348
2014 (17 yrs)	38.1%	423
2013 (16 yrs)	36.7%	553
2012 (15 yrs)	37.4%	687
2011 (14 yrs)	36.6%	947
2010 (13 yrs)	39.1%	1,117
2009 (12 yrs)	37.2%	1,286

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

37.2%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 1,286Avg Mileage 174,352Top Failure Brakes — 48.7%

2010High Fail Rate

39.1%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,117Avg Mileage 178,904Top Failure Brakes — 48.8%

2011High Fail Rate

36.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 947Avg Mileage 179,884Top Failure Brakes — 49.9%

2012High Fail Rate

37.4%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 687Avg Mileage 182,046Top Failure Brakes — 50.5%

2013High Fail Rate

36.7%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 553Avg Mileage 179,117Top Failure Brakes — 160.4%

2014High Fail Rate

38.1%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 423Avg Mileage 180,984Top Failure Brakes — 168.3%

2015High Fail Rate

43.7%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 348Avg Mileage 183,531Top Failure Brakes — 131.3%

2016High Fail Rate

43.6%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 291Avg Mileage 179,550Top Failure Brakes — 119.2%

2017High Fail Rate

53.0%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 83Avg Mileage 169,390Top Failure Brakes — 109.6%

2018High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 56Avg Mileage 172,109Top Failure Brakes — 85.7%

2019High Fail Rate

52.9%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 51Avg Mileage 175,323Top Failure Brakes — 100.0%

2020High Fail Rate

58.8%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 34Avg Mileage 153,040Top Failure Brakes — 64.7%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes 308 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	37.2%	1,286	174,352	Brakes — 48.7%
2010	13	39.1%	1,117	178,904	Brakes — 48.8%
2011	14	36.6%	947	179,884	Brakes — 49.9%
2012	15	37.4%	687	182,046	Brakes — 50.5%
2013	16	36.7%	553	179,117	Brakes — 160.4%
2014	17	38.1%	423	180,984	Brakes — 168.3%
2015	18	43.7%	348	183,531	Brakes — 131.3%
2016	19	43.6%	291	179,550	Brakes — 119.2%
2017	20	53.0%	83	169,390	Brakes — 109.6%
2018	21	57.1%	56	172,109	Brakes — 85.7%
2019	22	52.9%	51	175,323	Brakes — 100.0%
2020	23	58.8%	34	153,040	Brakes — 64.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes 308, with age trends.

Brakes

94.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

70.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

67.0%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

52.5%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

31.0%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	34.0% (12 yrs)	55.9% (23 yrs)	+21.9%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	48.7% (12 yrs)	64.7% (23 yrs)	+16.0%	🔴 ↑

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 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 5,876 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.