1996 Mercedes 310 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

36.4%

Latest Pass Rate

388

Total Tests (All Years)

229,618 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 20

This car: 36.4%

Average: 56.6%

⚠️ 20.2% below average (6824 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1996 Mercedes 310 as it ages.

13 yrs36.5%

→ ↓1.1%

14 yrs35.4%

→ ↑1.6%

15 yrs37.0%

→ ↑4.7%

16 yrs41.7%

→ ↑0.2%

17 yrs41.9%

→ ↑4.3%

18 yrs46.2%

→ ↓8.7%

19 yrs37.5%

→ ↓1.1%

20 yrs36.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	36.5%	74
14 yrs	35.4%	65
15 yrs	37.0%	54
16 yrs	41.7%	48
17 yrs	41.9%	43
18 yrs	46.2%	39
19 yrs	37.5%	32
20 yrs	36.4%	33

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 Mercedes 310 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (20 yrs)	36.4%	33
2015 (19 yrs)	37.5%	32
2014 (18 yrs)	46.2%	39
2013 (17 yrs)	41.9%	43
2012 (16 yrs)	41.7%	48
2011 (15 yrs)	37%	54
2010 (14 yrs)	35.4%	65
2009 (13 yrs)	36.5%	74

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

36.5%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 74Avg Mileage 206,207Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 50.0%

2010High Fail Rate

35.4%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 65Avg Mileage 213,723Top Failure Brakes — 58.5%

2011High Fail Rate

37.0%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 54Avg Mileage 205,705Top Failure Brakes — 51.9%

2012High Fail Rate

41.7%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 48Avg Mileage 223,660Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 50.0%

2013High Fail Rate

41.9%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 43Avg Mileage 211,678Top Failure Brakes — 160.5%

2014High Fail Rate

46.2%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 39Avg Mileage 222,406Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 138.5%

2015High Fail Rate

37.5%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 32Avg Mileage 208,364Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 100.0%

2016High Fail Rate

36.4%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 33Avg Mileage 229,618Top Failure Brakes — 130.3%

MOT results for 1996 Mercedes 310 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	36.5%	74	206,207	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 50.0%
2010	14	35.4%	65	213,723	Brakes — 58.5%
2011	15	37.0%	54	205,705	Brakes — 51.9%
2012	16	41.7%	48	223,660	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 50.0%
2013	17	41.9%	43	211,678	Brakes — 160.5%
2014	18	46.2%	39	222,406	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 138.5%
2015	19	37.5%	32	208,364	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 100.0%
2016	20	36.4%	33	229,618	Brakes — 130.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 Mercedes 310, with age trends.

Brakes

84.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

83.3%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

63.5%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

49.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Tyres

43.8%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	37.8% (13 yrs)	121.2% (20 yrs)	+83.4%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	48.6% (13 yrs)	130.3% (20 yrs)	+81.7%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	50.0% (13 yrs)	106.1% (20 yrs)	+56.1%	🔴 ↑
Driver's View of the Road	16.2% (13 yrs)	36.4% (20 yrs)	+20.2%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes 310 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 310 cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 388 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.