1997 Mercedes C 230 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

66.7%

Latest Pass Rate

2,790

Total Tests (All Years)

130,137 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 230 as it ages.

12 yrs64.3%

→ ↓4.7%

13 yrs59.6%

→ ↑6.0%

14 yrs65.6%

→ ↓0.8%

15 yrs64.8%

→ ↓1.9%

16 yrs62.9%

→ ↓2.1%

17 yrs60.8%

→ ↑5.5%

18 yrs66.3%

→ ↓2.1%

19 yrs64.2%

→ ↑2.5%

20 yrs66.7%

→ ↓5.5%

21 yrs61.2%

→ ↑6.7%

22 yrs67.9%

→ ↓1.2%

23 yrs66.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	64.3%	471
13 yrs	59.6%	443
14 yrs	65.6%	387
15 yrs	64.8%	338
16 yrs	62.9%	272
17 yrs	60.8%	227
18 yrs	66.3%	199
19 yrs	64.2%	159
20 yrs	66.7%	123
21 yrs	61.2%	67
22 yrs	67.9%	56
23 yrs	66.7%	48

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes C 230 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (23 yrs)	66.7%	48
2019 (22 yrs)	67.9%	56
2018 (21 yrs)	61.2%	67
2017 (20 yrs)	66.7%	123
2016 (19 yrs)	64.2%	159
2015 (18 yrs)	66.3%	199
2014 (17 yrs)	60.8%	227
2013 (16 yrs)	62.9%	272
2012 (15 yrs)	64.8%	338
2011 (14 yrs)	65.6%	387
2010 (13 yrs)	59.6%	443
2009 (12 yrs)	64.3%	471

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

64.3%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 471Avg Mileage 109,912Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.6%

2010High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 443Avg Mileage 114,370Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.9%

2011

65.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 387Avg Mileage 118,746Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.1%

2012High Fail Rate

64.8%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 338Avg Mileage 121,503Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.4%

2013High Fail Rate

62.9%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 272Avg Mileage 122,685Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.4%

2014High Fail Rate

60.8%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 227Avg Mileage 123,533Top Failure Brakes — 54.6%

2015

66.3%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 199Avg Mileage 126,607Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.7%

2016High Fail Rate

64.2%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 159Avg Mileage 127,698Top Failure Brakes — 43.4%

2017

66.7%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 123Avg Mileage 130,017Top Failure Suspension — 43.1%

2018High Fail Rate

61.2%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 67Avg Mileage 124,181Top Failure Brakes — 61.2%

2019

67.9%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 56Avg Mileage 126,417Top Failure Suspension — 46.4%

2020

66.7%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 48Avg Mileage 130,137Top Failure Brakes — 56.3%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes C 230 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	64.3%	471	109,912	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.6%
2010	13	59.6%	443	114,370	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.9%
2011	14	65.6%	387	118,746	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.1%
2012	15	64.8%	338	121,503	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.4%
2013	16	62.9%	272	122,685	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.4%
2014	17	60.8%	227	123,533	Brakes — 54.6%
2015	18	66.3%	199	126,607	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.7%
2016	19	64.2%	159	127,698	Brakes — 43.4%
2017	20	66.7%	123	130,017	Suspension — 43.1%
2018	21	61.2%	67	124,181	Brakes — 61.2%
2019	22	67.9%	56	126,417	Suspension — 46.4%
2020	23	66.7%	48	130,137	Brakes — 56.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes C 230, with age trends.

Brakes

34.7%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

33.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

30.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

29.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Tyres

20.7%

↑ 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	16.6% (12 yrs)	56.3% (23 yrs)	+39.7%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	13.2% (12 yrs)	41.7% (23 yrs)	+28.5%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	10.8% (12 yrs)	18.8% (23 yrs)	+8.0%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1996 1997 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

← Back to Mercedes C 230 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes C 230 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes C 230 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 2,790 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.