1986 Mercedes 420 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1986 perform at MOT as they age

40 years

Current Age

73.7%

Latest Pass Rate

999

Total Tests (All Years)

104,486 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 1986 Mercedes 420 as it ages.

23 yrs64.8%

→ ↑9.2%

24 yrs74.0%

→ ↓1.3%

25 yrs72.7%

→ ↓3.8%

26 yrs68.9%

→ ↓1.4%

27 yrs67.5%

→ ↓2.6%

28 yrs64.9%

→ ↑6.1%

29 yrs71.0%

→ ↑1.5%

30 yrs72.5%

→ ↑1.2%

31 yrs73.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
23 yrs	64.8%	142
24 yrs	74.0%	131
25 yrs	72.7%	132
26 yrs	68.9%	119
27 yrs	67.5%	117
28 yrs	64.9%	111
29 yrs	71.0%	107
30 yrs	72.5%	102
31 yrs	73.7%	38

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1986 Mercedes 420 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (31 yrs)	73.7%	38
2016 (30 yrs)	72.5%	102
2015 (29 yrs)	71%	107
2014 (28 yrs)	64.9%	111
2013 (27 yrs)	67.5%	117
2012 (26 yrs)	68.9%	119
2011 (25 yrs)	72.7%	132
2010 (24 yrs)	74%	131
2009 (23 yrs)	64.8%	142

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

64.8%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 142Avg Mileage 98,292Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.5%

2010

74.0%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 131Avg Mileage 98,312Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.5%

2011

72.7%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 132Avg Mileage 102,492Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.9%

2012

68.9%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 119Avg Mileage 102,937Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.4%

2013

67.5%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 117Avg Mileage 99,452Top Failure Suspension — 44.4%

2014High Fail Rate

64.9%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 111Avg Mileage 101,811Top Failure Suspension — 55.0%

2015

71.0%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 107Avg Mileage 98,789Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.6%

2016

72.5%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 102Avg Mileage 103,809Top Failure Suspension — 29.4%

2017

73.7%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 38Avg Mileage 104,486Top Failure Suspension — 39.5%

MOT results for 1986 Mercedes 420 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	23	64.8%	142	98,292	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.5%
2010	24	74.0%	131	98,312	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.5%
2011	25	72.7%	132	102,492	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.9%
2012	26	68.9%	119	102,937	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.4%
2013	27	67.5%	117	99,452	Suspension — 44.4%
2014	28	64.9%	111	101,811	Suspension — 55.0%
2015	29	71.0%	107	98,789	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.6%
2016	30	72.5%	102	103,809	Suspension — 29.4%
2017	31	73.7%	38	104,486	Suspension — 39.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1986 Mercedes 420, with age trends.

Suspension

27.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

24.0%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

19.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

11.2%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

10.9%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	14.8% (23 yrs)	39.5% (31 yrs)	+24.7%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	15.5% (23 yrs)	10.5% (31 yrs)	-5.0%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	14.8% (23 yrs)	10.5% (31 yrs)	-4.3%	🟢 ↓
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	22.5% (23 yrs)	18.4% (31 yrs)	-4.1%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991

← Back to Mercedes 420 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes 420 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 420 cars manufactured in 1986 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 999 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.