Mercedes 609d MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 392 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 53.3%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Mercedes 609d MOT Reliability Overview
The Mercedes 609d is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 392 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 7 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 46.7% and a failure rate of 53.3%, which is significantly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Mercedes 609d earns a "Very Poor" reliability rating. The average Mercedes 609d presents for MOT with approximately 235,520 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1995 models achieve the highest pass rate at 56.1%, while 1994 models have the lowest at 40.6%. This 15.5 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Mercedes 609d is Brakes, affecting 59.4% 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 Steering at 35.7%. Suspension rounds out the top three at 27.8%. 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 | 74.0% | 290 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 63.0% | 247 |
| 3 | Steering | 38.5% | 151 |
| 4 | Suspension | 32.1% | 126 |
| 5 | Body, Structure And General Items | 18.9% | 74 |
| 6 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 17.9% | 70 |
| 7 | Tyres | 16.6% | 65 |
| 8 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 15.8% | 62 |
| 9 | Driver's View Of The Road | 11.0% | 43 |
| 10 | Visibility | 6.6% | 26 |
| 11 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 5.9% | 23 |
| 12 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 3.3% | 13 |
| 13 | Registration Plates And Vin | 2.6% | 10 |
| 14 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 2.0% | 8 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 235,520 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 | 3.14 | 74.0% | 290 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 2.68 | 63.0% | 247 |
| Steering | 1.64 | 38.5% | 151 |
| Body & Structure | 1.56 | 36.8% | 144 |
| Suspension | 1.36 | 32.1% | 126 |
| Visibility | 0.75 | 17.6% | 69 |
| Tyres | 0.70 | 16.6% | 65 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.67 | 15.8% | 62 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.25 | 5.9% | 23 |
| Seat Belts | 0.14 | 3.3% | 13 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.11 | 2.6% | 10 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.09 | 2.0% | 8 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Mercedes 609d has 235,520 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 609d has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 2.26% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Mercedes 609d MOT Data
The Mercedes 609d is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 392 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 7 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 46.7% and a failure rate of 53.3%, which is significantly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Mercedes 609d owners, these results suggest above-average failure risk — thorough pre-MOT checks are recommended. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and steering 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 609d is likely to perform.
Brakes — 59.4% of failures
Brakes issues account for 59.4% of MOT failures on the Mercedes 609d. 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).
Steering — 35.7% of failures
Steering issues account for 35.7% of MOT failures on the Mercedes 609d. 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.
Suspension — 27.8% of failures
Suspension issues account for 27.8% of MOT failures on the Mercedes 609d. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes 609d?
Based on 392 MOT tests in our database, the Mercedes 609d has an overall pass rate of 46.7% (53.3% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mercedes 609d?
The top 3 reasons a Mercedes 609d fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (59.4%), 2. Steering (35.7%), 3. Suspension (27.8%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Mercedes 609d reliable?
With a 53.3% MOT failure rate, the 609d is less reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Mercedes 609d?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (59.4%); Steering (35.7%); Suspension (27.8%). 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.