1997 Mercedes C 220 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

62.1%

Latest Pass Rate

1,714

Total Tests (All Years)

141,709 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 19

This car: 62.1%

Average: 55.4%

✅ 6.7% above average (7550 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Mercedes C 220 as it ages.

12 yrs54.6%

→ ↑1.1%

13 yrs55.7%

→ ↑0.9%

14 yrs56.6%

→ ↑3.3%

15 yrs59.9%

→ ↑1.2%

16 yrs61.1%

→ ↓4.8%

17 yrs56.3%

→ ↑2.7%

18 yrs59.0%

→ ↑3.1%

19 yrs62.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	54.6%	394
13 yrs	55.7%	357
14 yrs	56.6%	288
15 yrs	59.9%	212
16 yrs	61.1%	162
17 yrs	56.3%	135
18 yrs	59.0%	100
19 yrs	62.1%	66

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes C 220 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (19 yrs)	62.1%	66
2015 (18 yrs)	59%	100
2014 (17 yrs)	56.3%	135
2013 (16 yrs)	61.1%	162
2012 (15 yrs)	59.9%	212
2011 (14 yrs)	56.6%	288
2010 (13 yrs)	55.7%	357
2009 (12 yrs)	54.6%	394

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

54.6%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 394Avg Mileage 138,335Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.9%

2010High Fail Rate

55.7%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 357Avg Mileage 142,898Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.9%

2011High Fail Rate

56.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 288Avg Mileage 147,878Top Failure Brakes — 25.3%

2012High Fail Rate

59.9%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 212Avg Mileage 150,429Top Failure Brakes — 22.2%

2013High Fail Rate

61.1%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 162Avg Mileage 145,458Top Failure Suspension — 50.6%

2014High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 135Avg Mileage 147,274Top Failure Brakes — 78.5%

2015High Fail Rate

59.0%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 100Avg Mileage 152,647Top Failure Brakes — 65.0%

2016High Fail Rate

62.1%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 66Avg Mileage 141,709Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.8%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes C 220 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	54.6%	394	138,335	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.9%
2010	13	55.7%	357	142,898	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.9%
2011	14	56.6%	288	147,878	Brakes — 25.3%
2012	15	59.9%	212	150,429	Brakes — 22.2%
2013	16	61.1%	162	145,458	Suspension — 50.6%
2014	17	56.3%	135	147,274	Brakes — 78.5%
2015	18	59.0%	100	152,647	Brakes — 65.0%
2016	19	62.1%	66	141,709	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes C 220, with age trends.

Brakes

38.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

33.8%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

32.4%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

19.2%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

13.0%

↑ 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
Tyres	15.2% (12 yrs)	22.7% (19 yrs)	+7.5%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	27.9% (12 yrs)	34.8% (19 yrs)	+6.9%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	27.2% (12 yrs)	21.2% (19 yrs)	-6.0%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	16.8% (12 yrs)	21.2% (19 yrs)	+4.4%	🔴 ↑

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 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 1,714 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.