1980 Mercedes 380 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1980 perform at MOT as they age

46 years

Current Age

71.0%

Latest Pass Rate

639

Total Tests (All Years)

85,034 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 1980 Mercedes 380 as it ages.

29 yrs51.7%

→ ↑12.5%

30 yrs64.2%

→ ↑0.1%

31 yrs64.3%

→ ↑0.2%

32 yrs64.5%

→ ↓2.9%

33 yrs61.6%

→ ↓0.8%

34 yrs60.8%

→ ↓3.9%

35 yrs56.9%

→ ↑16.9%

36 yrs73.8%

→ ↓2.8%

37 yrs71.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
29 yrs	51.7%	87
30 yrs	64.2%	81
31 yrs	64.3%	84
32 yrs	64.5%	76
33 yrs	61.6%	73
34 yrs	60.8%	74
35 yrs	56.9%	72
36 yrs	73.8%	61
37 yrs	71.0%	31

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1980 Mercedes 380 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (37 yrs)	71%	31
2016 (36 yrs)	73.8%	61
2015 (35 yrs)	56.9%	72
2014 (34 yrs)	60.8%	74
2013 (33 yrs)	61.6%	73
2012 (32 yrs)	64.5%	76
2011 (31 yrs)	64.3%	84
2010 (30 yrs)	64.2%	81
2009 (29 yrs)	51.7%	87

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

51.7%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 87Avg Mileage 90,354Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 25.3%

2010High Fail Rate

64.2%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 81Avg Mileage 88,846Top Failure Brakes — 17.3%

2011High Fail Rate

64.3%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 84Avg Mileage 88,609Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 17.9%

2012High Fail Rate

64.5%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 76Avg Mileage 89,975Top Failure Suspension — 18.4%

2013High Fail Rate

61.6%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 73Avg Mileage 92,367Top Failure Brakes — 35.6%

2014High Fail Rate

60.8%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 74Avg Mileage 91,701Top Failure Brakes — 44.6%

2015High Fail Rate

56.9%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 72Avg Mileage 88,729Top Failure Suspension — 50.0%

2016

73.8%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 61Avg Mileage 91,125Top Failure Brakes — 24.6%

2017

71.0%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 31Avg Mileage 85,034Top Failure Brakes — 29.0%

MOT results for 1980 Mercedes 380 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	29	51.7%	87	90,354	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 25.3%
2010	30	64.2%	81	88,846	Brakes — 17.3%
2011	31	64.3%	84	88,609	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 17.9%
2012	32	64.5%	76	89,975	Suspension — 18.4%
2013	33	61.6%	73	92,367	Brakes — 35.6%
2014	34	60.8%	74	91,701	Brakes — 44.6%
2015	35	56.9%	72	88,729	Suspension — 50.0%
2016	36	73.8%	61	91,125	Brakes — 24.6%
2017	37	71.0%	31	85,034	Brakes — 29.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1980 Mercedes 380, with age trends.

Brakes

26.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

23.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

21.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

19.8%

↑ Increases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

17.7%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	18.4% (29 yrs)	29.0% (37 yrs)	+10.6%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	25.3% (29 yrs)	16.1% (37 yrs)	-9.2%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	24.1% (29 yrs)	16.1% (37 yrs)	-8.0%	🟢 ↓
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	25.3% (29 yrs)	25.8% (37 yrs)	+0.5%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985

← Back to Mercedes 380 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes 380 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 380 cars manufactured in 1980 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 639 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.