1996 Mercedes C 180 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

68.3%

Latest Pass Rate

26,845

Total Tests (All Years)

109,124 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 1996 Mercedes C 180 as it ages.

13 yrs57.2%

→ ↑0.4%

14 yrs57.6%

→ ↓1.2%

15 yrs56.4%

→ ↑1.3%

16 yrs57.7%

→ ↓1.6%

17 yrs56.1%

→ ↑3.5%

18 yrs59.6%

→ ↑1.9%

19 yrs61.5%

→ ↑0.5%

20 yrs62.0%

→ ↑1.3%

21 yrs63.3%

→ ↑4.8%

22 yrs68.1%

→ ↑0.7%

23 yrs68.8%

→ ↓0.5%

24 yrs68.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	57.2%	5,632
14 yrs	57.6%	4,999
15 yrs	56.4%	4,144
16 yrs	57.7%	3,158
17 yrs	56.1%	2,486
18 yrs	59.6%	1,891
19 yrs	61.5%	1,465
20 yrs	62.0%	1,134
21 yrs	63.3%	823
22 yrs	68.1%	461
23 yrs	68.8%	362
24 yrs	68.3%	290

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 Mercedes C 180 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (24 yrs)	68.3%	290
2019 (23 yrs)	68.8%	362
2018 (22 yrs)	68.1%	461
2017 (21 yrs)	63.3%	823
2016 (20 yrs)	62%	1,134
2015 (19 yrs)	61.5%	1,465
2014 (18 yrs)	59.6%	1,891
2013 (17 yrs)	56.1%	2,486
2012 (16 yrs)	57.7%	3,158
2011 (15 yrs)	56.4%	4,144
2010 (14 yrs)	57.6%	4,999
2009 (13 yrs)	57.2%	5,632

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

57.2%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 5,632Avg Mileage 110,890Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.1%

2010High Fail Rate

57.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 4,999Avg Mileage 115,697Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.6%

2011High Fail Rate

56.4%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 4,144Avg Mileage 116,092Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.0%

2012High Fail Rate

57.7%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 3,158Avg Mileage 116,938Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.6%

2013High Fail Rate

56.1%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 2,486Avg Mileage 117,739Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.6%

2014High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 1,891Avg Mileage 116,400Top Failure Brakes — 48.9%

2015High Fail Rate

61.5%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 1,465Avg Mileage 114,986Top Failure Brakes — 42.3%

2016High Fail Rate

62.0%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 1,134Avg Mileage 114,483Top Failure Brakes — 42.2%

2017High Fail Rate

63.3%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 823Avg Mileage 113,377Top Failure Brakes — 44.6%

2018

68.1%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 461Avg Mileage 112,480Top Failure Suspension — 41.6%

2019

68.8%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 362Avg Mileage 108,765Top Failure Brakes — 36.5%

2020

68.3%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 290Avg Mileage 109,124Top Failure Suspension — 40.0%

MOT results for 1996 Mercedes C 180 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	57.2%	5,632	110,890	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.1%
2010	14	57.6%	4,999	115,697	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.6%
2011	15	56.4%	4,144	116,092	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.0%
2012	16	57.7%	3,158	116,938	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.6%
2013	17	56.1%	2,486	117,739	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.6%
2014	18	59.6%	1,891	116,400	Brakes — 48.9%
2015	19	61.5%	1,465	114,986	Brakes — 42.3%
2016	20	62.0%	1,134	114,483	Brakes — 42.2%
2017	21	63.3%	823	113,377	Brakes — 44.6%
2018	22	68.1%	461	112,480	Suspension — 41.6%
2019	23	68.8%	362	108,765	Brakes — 36.5%
2020	24	68.3%	290	109,124	Suspension — 40.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 Mercedes C 180, with age trends.

Brakes

34.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

33.4%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

32.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

23.3%

↑ Increases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

18.4%

↑ Increases 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	16.1% (13 yrs)	40.0% (24 yrs)	+23.9%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	19.0% (13 yrs)	33.4% (24 yrs)	+14.4%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	16.1% (13 yrs)	15.5% (24 yrs)	-0.6%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes C 180 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes C 180 cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 26,845 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.