1997 Mercedes C 250 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

69.1%

Latest Pass Rate

9,965

Total Tests (All Years)

134,778 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 250 as it ages.

12 yrs62.2%

→ ↑1.2%

13 yrs63.4%

→ ↓1.0%

14 yrs62.4%

→ ↑0.6%

15 yrs63.0%

→ ↓2.2%

16 yrs60.8%

→ ↑2.0%

17 yrs62.8%

→ ↓0.3%

18 yrs62.5%

→ ↓0.2%

19 yrs62.3%

→ ↑2.6%

20 yrs64.9%

→ ↓4.9%

21 yrs60.0%

→ ↑4.2%

22 yrs64.2%

→ ↑4.9%

23 yrs69.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	62.2%	1,868
13 yrs	63.4%	1,701
14 yrs	62.4%	1,549
15 yrs	63.0%	1,327
16 yrs	60.8%	1,096
17 yrs	62.8%	855
18 yrs	62.5%	680
19 yrs	62.3%	538
20 yrs	64.9%	154
21 yrs	60.0%	75
22 yrs	64.2%	67
23 yrs	69.1%	55

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes C 250 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (23 yrs)	69.1%	55
2019 (22 yrs)	64.2%	67
2018 (21 yrs)	60%	75
2017 (20 yrs)	64.9%	154
2016 (19 yrs)	62.3%	538
2015 (18 yrs)	62.5%	680
2014 (17 yrs)	62.8%	855
2013 (16 yrs)	60.8%	1,096
2012 (15 yrs)	63%	1,327
2011 (14 yrs)	62.4%	1,549
2010 (13 yrs)	63.4%	1,701
2009 (12 yrs)	62.2%	1,868

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

62.2%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 1,868Avg Mileage 133,457Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.3%

2010High Fail Rate

63.4%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,701Avg Mileage 139,444Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.8%

2011High Fail Rate

62.4%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 1,549Avg Mileage 141,206Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.6%

2012High Fail Rate

63.0%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 1,327Avg Mileage 145,175Top Failure Brakes — 20.0%

2013High Fail Rate

60.8%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 1,096Avg Mileage 146,549Top Failure Brakes — 54.7%

2014High Fail Rate

62.8%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 855Avg Mileage 144,697Top Failure Brakes — 51.2%

2015High Fail Rate

62.5%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 680Avg Mileage 145,605Top Failure Brakes — 46.8%

2016High Fail Rate

62.3%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 538Avg Mileage 145,842Top Failure Brakes — 50.2%

2017High Fail Rate

64.9%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 154Avg Mileage 143,863Top Failure Brakes — 52.6%

2018High Fail Rate

60.0%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 75Avg Mileage 139,625Top Failure Brakes — 57.3%

2019High Fail Rate

64.2%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 67Avg Mileage 144,133Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 47.8%

2020

69.1%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 55Avg Mileage 134,778Top Failure Brakes — 47.3%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes C 250 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	62.2%	1,868	133,457	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.3%
2010	13	63.4%	1,701	139,444	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.8%
2011	14	62.4%	1,549	141,206	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.6%
2012	15	63.0%	1,327	145,175	Brakes — 20.0%
2013	16	60.8%	1,096	146,549	Brakes — 54.7%
2014	17	62.8%	855	144,697	Brakes — 51.2%
2015	18	62.5%	680	145,605	Brakes — 46.8%
2016	19	62.3%	538	145,842	Brakes — 50.2%
2017	20	64.9%	154	143,863	Brakes — 52.6%
2018	21	60.0%	75	139,625	Brakes — 57.3%
2019	22	64.2%	67	144,133	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 47.8%
2020	23	69.1%	55	134,778	Brakes — 47.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes C 250, with age trends.

Brakes

40.1%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

36.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

33.0%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

31.5%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

22.6%

↑ 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
Suspension	16.3% (12 yrs)	45.5% (23 yrs)	+29.2%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	19.4% (12 yrs)	47.3% (23 yrs)	+27.9%	🔴 ↑

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 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 9,965 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.