1989 Mercedes 420 Sec — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age

37 years

Current Age

66.7%

Latest Pass Rate

289

Total Tests (All Years)

114,852 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for 420 Sec

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1989 Mercedes 420 Sec as it ages.

20 yrs60.7%

→ ↑18.0%

21 yrs78.7%

→ ↓8.7%

22 yrs70.0%

→ ↓0.8%

23 yrs69.2%

→ ↑0.5%

24 yrs69.7%

→ ↑3.8%

25 yrs73.5%

→ ↓6.8%

27 yrs66.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
20 yrs	60.7%	56
21 yrs	78.7%	47
22 yrs	70.0%	50
23 yrs	69.2%	39
24 yrs	69.7%	33
25 yrs	73.5%	34
27 yrs	66.7%	30

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1989 Mercedes 420 Sec pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (27 yrs)	66.7%	30
2014 (25 yrs)	73.5%	34
2013 (24 yrs)	69.7%	33
2012 (23 yrs)	69.2%	39
2011 (22 yrs)	70%	50
2010 (21 yrs)	78.7%	47
2009 (20 yrs)	60.7%	56

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

60.7%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 56Avg Mileage 117,961Top Failure Suspension — 21.4%

2010

78.7%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 47Avg Mileage 115,506Top Failure Suspension — 12.8%

2011

70.0%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 50Avg Mileage 116,560Top Failure Brakes — 18.0%

2012

69.2%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 39Avg Mileage 112,767Top Failure Brakes — 20.5%

2013

69.7%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 33Avg Mileage 110,079Top Failure Brakes — 27.3%

2014

73.5%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 34Avg Mileage 111,049Top Failure Brakes — 44.1%

2016

66.7%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 30Avg Mileage 114,852Top Failure Brakes — 46.7%

MOT results for 1989 Mercedes 420 Sec by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	20	60.7%	56	117,961	Suspension — 21.4%
2010	21	78.7%	47	115,506	Suspension — 12.8%
2011	22	70.0%	50	116,560	Brakes — 18.0%
2012	23	69.2%	39	112,767	Brakes — 20.5%
2013	24	69.7%	33	110,079	Brakes — 27.3%
2014	25	73.5%	34	111,049	Brakes — 44.1%
2016	27	66.7%	30	114,852	Brakes — 46.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1989 Mercedes 420 Sec, with age trends.

Brakes

26.7%

↑ Increases with age

Steering

21.2%

— Consistent

Suspension

20.4%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

19.5%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

15.2%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	19.6% (20 yrs)	46.7% (27 yrs)	+27.1%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	21.4% (20 yrs)	40.0% (27 yrs)	+18.6%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	21.4% (20 yrs)	33.3% (27 yrs)	+11.9%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	14.3% (20 yrs)	16.7% (27 yrs)	+2.4%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	17.9% (20 yrs)	16.7% (27 yrs)	-1.2%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1987 1988 1989 1990

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About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 420 Sec cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 289 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.