1996 Mercedes C 250 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

59.0%

Latest Pass Rate

3,075

Total Tests (All Years)

151,016 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 250 as it ages.

13 yrs59.3%

→ ↓1.4%

14 yrs57.9%

→ ↑0.7%

15 yrs58.6%

→ ↓1.0%

16 yrs57.6%

→ ↑1.1%

17 yrs58.7%

→ ↑3.3%

18 yrs62.0%

→ ↑3.6%

19 yrs65.6%

→ ↑6.3%

20 yrs71.9%

→ ↓12.9%

21 yrs59.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	59.3%	646
14 yrs	57.9%	577
15 yrs	58.6%	495
16 yrs	57.6%	413
17 yrs	58.7%	322
18 yrs	62.0%	237
19 yrs	65.6%	186
20 yrs	71.9%	160
21 yrs	59.0%	39

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 Mercedes C 250 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (21 yrs)	59%	39
2016 (20 yrs)	71.9%	160
2015 (19 yrs)	65.6%	186
2014 (18 yrs)	62%	237
2013 (17 yrs)	58.7%	322
2012 (16 yrs)	57.6%	413
2011 (15 yrs)	58.6%	495
2010 (14 yrs)	57.9%	577
2009 (13 yrs)	59.3%	646

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

59.3%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 646Avg Mileage 136,329Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.5%

2010High Fail Rate

57.9%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 577Avg Mileage 141,007Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.1%

2011High Fail Rate

58.6%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 495Avg Mileage 143,550Top Failure Brakes — 22.6%

2012High Fail Rate

57.6%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 413Avg Mileage 146,456Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.0%

2013High Fail Rate

58.7%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 322Avg Mileage 147,094Top Failure Brakes — 64.3%

2014High Fail Rate

62.0%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 237Avg Mileage 144,933Top Failure Brakes — 43.5%

2015

65.6%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 186Avg Mileage 142,326Top Failure Brakes — 56.5%

2016

71.9%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 160Avg Mileage 147,401Top Failure Brakes — 30.0%

2017High Fail Rate

59.0%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 39Avg Mileage 151,016Top Failure Suspension — 82.1%

MOT results for 1996 Mercedes C 250 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	59.3%	646	136,329	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.5%
2010	14	57.9%	577	141,007	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.1%
2011	15	58.6%	495	143,550	Brakes — 22.6%
2012	16	57.6%	413	146,456	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.0%
2013	17	58.7%	322	147,094	Brakes — 64.3%
2014	18	62.0%	237	144,933	Brakes — 43.5%
2015	19	65.6%	186	142,326	Brakes — 56.5%
2016	20	71.9%	160	147,401	Brakes — 30.0%
2017	21	59.0%	39	151,016	Suspension — 82.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 Mercedes C 250, with age trends.

Brakes

35.6%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

34.0%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

28.3%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

21.5%

↑ Increases with age

Non-component advisories

17.9%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	18.4% (13 yrs)	82.1% (21 yrs)	+63.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	21.2% (13 yrs)	38.5% (21 yrs)	+17.3%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	15.2% (13 yrs)	25.6% (21 yrs)	+10.4%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	21.5% (13 yrs)	30.8% (21 yrs)	+9.3%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

← Back to Mercedes C 250 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes C 250 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes C 250 cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 3,075 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.