1997 Mercedes 312d Lwb — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

53.3%

Latest Pass Rate

1,706

Total Tests (All Years)

196,813 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 19

This car: 53.3%

Average: 55.4%

⚠️ 2.1% below average (7550 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Mercedes 312d Lwb as it ages.

12 yrs41.4%

→ ↑1.5%

13 yrs42.9%

→ ↓5.5%

14 yrs37.4%

→ ↑3.0%

15 yrs40.4%

→ ↑1.6%

16 yrs42.0%

→ ↑7.7%

17 yrs49.7%

→ ↓7.1%

18 yrs42.6%

→ ↑10.7%

19 yrs53.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	41.4%	367
13 yrs	42.9%	315
14 yrs	37.4%	254
15 yrs	40.4%	213
16 yrs	42.0%	181
17 yrs	49.7%	147
18 yrs	42.6%	122
19 yrs	53.3%	107

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes 312d Lwb pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (19 yrs)	53.3%	107
2015 (18 yrs)	42.6%	122
2014 (17 yrs)	49.7%	147
2013 (16 yrs)	42%	181
2012 (15 yrs)	40.4%	213
2011 (14 yrs)	37.4%	254
2010 (13 yrs)	42.9%	315
2009 (12 yrs)	41.4%	367

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

41.4%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 367Avg Mileage 216,780Top Failure Brakes — 46.9%

2010High Fail Rate

42.9%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 315Avg Mileage 220,378Top Failure Brakes — 49.5%

2011High Fail Rate

37.4%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 254Avg Mileage 210,079Top Failure Brakes — 50.0%

2012High Fail Rate

40.4%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 213Avg Mileage 212,592Top Failure Brakes — 45.5%

2013High Fail Rate

42.0%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 181Avg Mileage 216,773Top Failure Brakes — 148.6%

2014High Fail Rate

49.7%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 147Avg Mileage 201,313Top Failure Brakes — 115.0%

2015High Fail Rate

42.6%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 122Avg Mileage 204,731Top Failure Brakes — 123.0%

2016High Fail Rate

53.3%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 107Avg Mileage 196,813Top Failure Suspension — 99.1%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes 312d Lwb by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	41.4%	367	216,780	Brakes — 46.9%
2010	13	42.9%	315	220,378	Brakes — 49.5%
2011	14	37.4%	254	210,079	Brakes — 50.0%
2012	15	40.4%	213	212,592	Brakes — 45.5%
2013	16	42.0%	181	216,773	Brakes — 148.6%
2014	17	49.7%	147	201,313	Brakes — 115.0%
2015	18	42.6%	122	204,731	Brakes — 123.0%
2016	19	53.3%	107	196,813	Suspension — 99.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes 312d Lwb, with age trends.

Brakes

82.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

67.3%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

65.1%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

27.2%

— Consistent

Tyres

18.6%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	34.3% (12 yrs)	99.1% (19 yrs)	+64.8%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	46.9% (12 yrs)	85.0% (19 yrs)	+38.1%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	43.9% (12 yrs)	80.4% (19 yrs)	+36.5%	🔴 ↑
Driver's View of the Road	16.9% (12 yrs)	12.1% (19 yrs)	-4.8%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

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About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 312d Lwb cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 1,706 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.