Mercedes 609 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,141 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 45.7%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Mercedes 609 MOT Reliability Overview
The Mercedes 609 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,141 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 10 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 54.3% and a failure rate of 45.7%, which is below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Mercedes 609 earns a "Poor" reliability rating. The average Mercedes 609 presents for MOT with approximately 219,579 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1990 models achieve the highest pass rate at 67.1%, while 1993 models have the lowest at 40.9%. This 26.2 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Mercedes 609 is Brakes, affecting 62.8% of all tests. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. The second most common issue is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment at 42.2%. Steering rounds out the top three at 30.9%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 81.5% | 930 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 63.4% | 724 |
| 3 | Suspension | 38.4% | 438 |
| 4 | Steering | 35.3% | 403 |
| 5 | Body, Structure And General Items | 18.6% | 212 |
| 6 | Driver's View Of The Road | 17.4% | 198 |
| 7 | Tyres | 15.4% | 176 |
| 8 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 15.1% | 172 |
| 9 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 9.6% | 109 |
| 10 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 5.4% | 62 |
| 11 | Visibility | 3.0% | 34 |
| 12 | Registration Plates And Vin | 1.8% | 20 |
| 13 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 1.4% | 16 |
| 14 | Items Not Tested | 1.2% | 14 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 219,579 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 3.71 | 81.5% | 930 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 2.89 | 63.4% | 724 |
| Suspension | 1.75 | 38.4% | 438 |
| Steering | 1.61 | 35.3% | 403 |
| Body & Structure | 1.10 | 24.0% | 274 |
| Visibility | 0.93 | 20.4% | 232 |
| Tyres | 0.70 | 15.4% | 176 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.69 | 15.1% | 172 |
| Seat Belts | 0.44 | 9.6% | 109 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.08 | 1.8% | 20 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.06 | 1.4% | 16 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.06 | 1.2% | 14 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Mercedes 609 has 219,579 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Mercedes 609 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 2.08% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Mercedes 609 MOT Data
The Mercedes 609 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,141 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 10 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 54.3% and a failure rate of 45.7%, which is below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Mercedes 609 owners, these results suggest above-average failure risk — thorough pre-MOT checks are recommended. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific 609 is likely to perform.
Brakes — 62.8% of failures
Brakes issues account for 62.8% of MOT failures on the Mercedes 609. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 42.2% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 42.2% of MOT failures on the Mercedes 609. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Steering — 30.9% of failures
Steering issues account for 30.9% of MOT failures on the Mercedes 609. Steering failures include excessive play in the steering wheel, leaking power steering fluid, worn track rod ends, and damaged steering rack. These affect vehicle control and are closely related to suspension wear. Typical repair costs: £150–600. Pre-MOT check: Check for excessive steering wheel play (more than a few inches of free movement). Listen for whining from the power steering pump. Look for fluid leaks under the car near the front wheels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes 609?
Based on 1,141 MOT tests in our database, the Mercedes 609 has an overall pass rate of 54.3% (45.7% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mercedes 609?
The top 3 reasons a Mercedes 609 fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (62.8%), 2. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (42.2%), 3. Steering (30.9%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Mercedes 609 reliable?
With a 45.7% MOT failure rate, the 609 is less reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Mercedes 609?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (62.8%); Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (42.2%); Steering (30.9%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.