1998 Mercedes 308 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

48.5%

Latest Pass Rate

4,369

Total Tests (All Years)

185,038 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 20

This car: 48.5%

Average: 56.6%

⚠️ 8.1% below average (6824 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1998 Mercedes 308 as it ages.

11 yrs36.7%

→ ↑1.3%

12 yrs38.0%

→ ↓1.4%

13 yrs36.6%

→ ↑0.1%

14 yrs36.7%

→ ↓0.0%

15 yrs36.7%

→ ↑1.1%

16 yrs37.8%

→ ↑2.2%

17 yrs40.0%

→ ↑7.8%

18 yrs47.8%

→ ↑10.1%

19 yrs57.9%

→ ↓9.4%

20 yrs48.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	36.7%	915
12 yrs	38.0%	824
13 yrs	36.6%	713
14 yrs	36.7%	531
15 yrs	36.7%	441
16 yrs	37.8%	352
17 yrs	40.0%	275
18 yrs	47.8%	228
19 yrs	57.9%	57
20 yrs	48.5%	33

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Mercedes 308 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2018 (20 yrs)	48.5%	33
2017 (19 yrs)	57.9%	57
2016 (18 yrs)	47.8%	228
2015 (17 yrs)	40%	275
2014 (16 yrs)	37.8%	352
2013 (15 yrs)	36.7%	441
2012 (14 yrs)	36.7%	531
2011 (13 yrs)	36.6%	713
2010 (12 yrs)	38%	824
2009 (11 yrs)	36.7%	915

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

36.7%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 915Avg Mileage 161,396Top Failure Brakes — 48.4%

2010High Fail Rate

38.0%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 824Avg Mileage 165,981Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.3%

2011High Fail Rate

36.6%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 713Avg Mileage 169,124Top Failure Brakes — 50.5%

2012High Fail Rate

36.7%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 531Avg Mileage 171,378Top Failure Brakes — 50.3%

2013High Fail Rate

36.7%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 441Avg Mileage 173,648Top Failure Brakes — 169.4%

2014High Fail Rate

37.8%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 352Avg Mileage 177,629Top Failure Brakes — 152.0%

2015High Fail Rate

40.0%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 275Avg Mileage 176,571Top Failure Brakes — 142.2%

2016High Fail Rate

47.8%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 228Avg Mileage 169,973Top Failure Brakes — 131.1%

2017High Fail Rate

57.9%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 57Avg Mileage 178,961Top Failure Brakes — 105.3%

2018High Fail Rate

48.5%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 33Avg Mileage 185,038Top Failure Brakes — 121.2%

MOT results for 1998 Mercedes 308 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	36.7%	915	161,396	Brakes — 48.4%
2010	12	38.0%	824	165,981	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.3%
2011	13	36.6%	713	169,124	Brakes — 50.5%
2012	14	36.7%	531	171,378	Brakes — 50.3%
2013	15	36.7%	441	173,648	Brakes — 169.4%
2014	16	37.8%	352	177,629	Brakes — 152.0%
2015	17	40.0%	275	176,571	Brakes — 142.2%
2016	18	47.8%	228	169,973	Brakes — 131.1%
2017	19	57.9%	57	178,961	Brakes — 105.3%
2018	20	48.5%	33	185,038	Brakes — 121.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Mercedes 308, with age trends.

Brakes

101.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

80.0%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

70.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

48.5%

— Consistent

Body, chassis, structure

48.5%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	48.4% (11 yrs)	121.2% (20 yrs)	+72.8%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	34.8% (11 yrs)	81.8% (20 yrs)	+47.0%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	46.4% (11 yrs)	84.8% (20 yrs)	+38.4%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

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

← Back to Mercedes 308 overview

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About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 308 cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2018, covering 4,369 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.