Mercedes B180 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,033 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 28.0%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Mercedes B180 MOT Reliability Overview
The Mercedes B180 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,033 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 7 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.0% and a failure rate of 28.0%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Mercedes B180 earns a "Very Good" reliability rating. The average Mercedes B180 presents for MOT with approximately 59,671 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2008 models achieve the highest pass rate at 78.4%, while 2009 models have the lowest at 66.4%. This 12.0 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Mercedes B180 is Brakes, affecting 25.2% 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 Tyres at 18.8%. Suspension rounds out the top three at 13.9%. 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
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
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 | 25.3% | 261 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 20.7% | 213 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.8% | 194 |
| 4 | Suspension | 13.9% | 144 |
| 5 | Non-component Advisories | 4.5% | 47 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 40 |
| 7 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 3.1% | 32 |
| 8 | Road Wheels | 2.2% | 23 |
| 9 | Driver's View Of The Road | 1.8% | 19 |
| 10 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 1.5% | 16 |
| 11 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.9% | 9 |
| 12 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.6% | 6 |
| 13 | Registration Plates And Vin | 0.6% | 6 |
| 14 | Steering | 0.5% | 5 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 59,671 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 | 4.23 | 25.3% | 261 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 3.46 | 20.7% | 213 |
| Tyres | 3.15 | 18.8% | 194 |
| Suspension | 2.34 | 13.9% | 144 |
| Visibility | 0.96 | 5.7% | 59 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.76 | 4.5% | 47 |
| Body & Structure | 0.52 | 3.1% | 32 |
| Wheels | 0.37 | 2.2% | 23 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.26 | 1.5% | 16 |
| Seat Belts | 0.15 | 0.9% | 9 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.10 | 0.6% | 6 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.10 | 0.6% | 6 |
| Steering | 0.08 | 0.5% | 5 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Mercedes B180 has 59,671 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 B180 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.69% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Mercedes B180 MOT Data
The Mercedes B180 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,033 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 7 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.0% and a failure rate of 28.0%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Mercedes B180 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and tyres 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 B180 is likely to perform.
Brakes — 25.2% of failures
Brakes issues account for 25.2% of MOT failures on the Mercedes B180. 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).
Tyres — 18.8% of failures
Tyres issues account for 18.8% of MOT failures on the Mercedes B180. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Suspension — 13.9% of failures
Suspension issues account for 13.9% of MOT failures on the Mercedes B180. 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 B180?
Based on 1,033 MOT tests in our database, the Mercedes B180 has an overall pass rate of 72.0% (28.0% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mercedes B180?
The top 3 reasons a Mercedes B180 fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (25.2%), 2. Tyres (18.8%), 3. Suspension (13.9%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Mercedes B180 reliable?
With a 28.0% MOT failure rate, the B180 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Mercedes B180?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (25.2%); Tyres (18.8%); Suspension (13.9%). 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.