1997 Mercedes C 200 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

68.5%

Latest Pass Rate

16,542

Total Tests (All Years)

117,649 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 1997 Mercedes C 200 as it ages.

12 yrs64.2%

→ ↓3.0%

13 yrs61.2%

→ ↑0.7%

14 yrs61.9%

→ ↓1.9%

15 yrs60.0%

→ ↑0.5%

16 yrs60.5%

→ ↑2.7%

17 yrs63.2%

→ ↓1.2%

18 yrs62.0%

→ ↑2.8%

19 yrs64.8%

→ ↓0.6%

20 yrs64.2%

→ ↑0.9%

21 yrs65.1%

→ ↑2.2%

22 yrs67.3%

→ ↑1.2%

23 yrs68.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	64.2%	3,131
13 yrs	61.2%	2,869
14 yrs	61.9%	2,550
15 yrs	60.0%	2,136
16 yrs	60.5%	1,717
17 yrs	63.2%	1,417
18 yrs	62.0%	1,165
19 yrs	64.8%	955
20 yrs	64.2%	254
21 yrs	65.1%	146
22 yrs	67.3%	113
23 yrs	68.5%	89

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes C 200 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (23 yrs)	68.5%	89
2019 (22 yrs)	67.3%	113
2018 (21 yrs)	65.1%	146
2017 (20 yrs)	64.2%	254
2016 (19 yrs)	64.8%	955
2015 (18 yrs)	62%	1,165
2014 (17 yrs)	63.2%	1,417
2013 (16 yrs)	60.5%	1,717
2012 (15 yrs)	60%	2,136
2011 (14 yrs)	61.9%	2,550
2010 (13 yrs)	61.2%	2,869
2009 (12 yrs)	64.2%	3,131

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

64.2%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 3,131Avg Mileage 110,621Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.0%

2010High Fail Rate

61.2%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 2,869Avg Mileage 115,560Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.0%

2011High Fail Rate

61.9%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 2,550Avg Mileage 117,293Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.7%

2012High Fail Rate

60.0%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 2,136Avg Mileage 119,845Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.8%

2013High Fail Rate

60.5%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 1,717Avg Mileage 119,855Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 45.9%

2014High Fail Rate

63.2%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 1,417Avg Mileage 121,280Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.5%

2015High Fail Rate

62.0%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 1,165Avg Mileage 121,744Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.2%

2016High Fail Rate

64.8%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 955Avg Mileage 122,191Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.6%

2017High Fail Rate

64.2%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 254Avg Mileage 121,069Top Failure Suspension — 41.7%

2018

65.1%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 146Avg Mileage 115,922Top Failure Suspension — 47.9%

2019

67.3%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 113Avg Mileage 118,992Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 50.4%

2020

68.5%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 89Avg Mileage 117,649Top Failure Brakes — 46.1%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes C 200 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	64.2%	3,131	110,621	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.0%
2010	13	61.2%	2,869	115,560	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.0%
2011	14	61.9%	2,550	117,293	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.7%
2012	15	60.0%	2,136	119,845	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.8%
2013	16	60.5%	1,717	119,855	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 45.9%
2014	17	63.2%	1,417	121,280	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.5%
2015	18	62.0%	1,165	121,744	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.2%
2016	19	64.8%	955	122,191	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.6%
2017	20	64.2%	254	121,069	Suspension — 41.7%
2018	21	65.1%	146	115,922	Suspension — 47.9%
2019	22	67.3%	113	118,992	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 50.4%
2020	23	68.5%	89	117,649	Brakes — 46.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes C 200, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

38.1%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

33.5%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

32.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

31.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Tyres

21.4%

↑ 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
Brakes	14.5% (12 yrs)	46.1% (23 yrs)	+31.6%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	13.6% (12 yrs)	43.8% (23 yrs)	+30.2%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	13.9% (12 yrs)	20.2% (23 yrs)	+6.3%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes C 200 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes C 200 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 16,542 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.