1996 Mercedes C 220 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

48.6%

Latest Pass Rate

4,394

Total Tests (All Years)

124,816 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 220 as it ages.

13 yrs59.9%

→ ↓0.3%

14 yrs59.6%

→ ↓3.6%

15 yrs56.0%

→ ↑3.0%

16 yrs59.0%

→ ↑0.8%

17 yrs59.8%

→ ↓1.6%

18 yrs58.2%

→ ↑2.4%

19 yrs60.6%

→ ↑4.5%

20 yrs65.1%

→ ↓16.5%

21 yrs48.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	59.9%	1,058
14 yrs	59.6%	911
15 yrs	56.0%	736
16 yrs	59.0%	541
17 yrs	59.8%	410
18 yrs	58.2%	311
19 yrs	60.6%	221
20 yrs	65.1%	169
21 yrs	48.6%	37

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 Mercedes C 220 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (21 yrs)	48.6%	37
2016 (20 yrs)	65.1%	169
2015 (19 yrs)	60.6%	221
2014 (18 yrs)	58.2%	311
2013 (17 yrs)	59.8%	410
2012 (16 yrs)	59%	541
2011 (15 yrs)	56%	736
2010 (14 yrs)	59.6%	911
2009 (13 yrs)	59.9%	1,058

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

59.9%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,058Avg Mileage 126,165Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.7%

2010High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 911Avg Mileage 130,710Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.5%

2011High Fail Rate

56.0%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 736Avg Mileage 130,333Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.5%

2012High Fail Rate

59.0%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 541Avg Mileage 130,432Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.4%

2013High Fail Rate

59.8%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 410Avg Mileage 129,702Top Failure Brakes — 50.7%

2014High Fail Rate

58.2%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 311Avg Mileage 131,120Top Failure Suspension — 47.6%

2015High Fail Rate

60.6%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 221Avg Mileage 126,435Top Failure Brakes — 40.7%

2016

65.1%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 169Avg Mileage 122,888Top Failure Brakes — 34.3%

2017High Fail Rate

48.6%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 37Avg Mileage 124,816Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.6%

MOT results for 1996 Mercedes C 220 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	59.9%	1,058	126,165	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.7%
2010	14	59.6%	911	130,710	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.5%
2011	15	56.0%	736	130,333	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.5%
2012	16	59.0%	541	130,432	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.4%
2013	17	59.8%	410	129,702	Brakes — 50.7%
2014	18	58.2%	311	131,120	Suspension — 47.6%
2015	19	60.6%	221	126,435	Brakes — 40.7%
2016	20	65.1%	169	122,888	Brakes — 34.3%
2017	21	48.6%	37	124,816	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 Mercedes C 220, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

32.8%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

31.9%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

28.7%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

20.0%

↑ Increases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

13.9%

↑ 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
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	24.7% (13 yrs)	48.6% (21 yrs)	+23.9%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	14.3% (13 yrs)	32.4% (21 yrs)	+18.1%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	19.8% (13 yrs)	35.1% (21 yrs)	+15.3%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	17.1% (13 yrs)	24.3% (21 yrs)	+7.2%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes C 220 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes C 220 cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 4,394 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.