1996 Mercedes C 280 MOT Pass Rate
Pass rate for C 280 models manufactured in 1996, based on 2,976 real MOT test results.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
This page shows all C 280 cars tested in 1996. Want to see how cars built in 1996 hold up over time?
View 1996 Mercedes C 280 vintage page → (70.2% current pass rate)1996 Mercedes C 280 MOT Analysis
The 1996 Mercedes C 280 has an MOT pass rate of 65.3% based on 2,976 tests — slightly above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 111,131 miles on the odometer. With a 34.7% failure rate, the 1996 C 280 is rated as "Good" for MOT reliability.
The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1996 Mercedes C 280 is Tyres, responsible for 0.7% of failures. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs range from £50–200 per tyre. Suspension is the second most common issue at 0.5%. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment follows at 0.4%.
Top failures specific to 1996 models only. The overall C 280 page may show different rankings.
What Fails Most
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 0.7% | 20 |
| 2 | Suspension | 0.5% | 14 |
| 3 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 0.4% | 13 |
| 4 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.3% | 10 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.3% | 8 |
| 6 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.1% | 4 |
| 7 | Steering | 0.1% | 4 |
| 8 | Visibility | 0.1% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 111,131 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
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| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 0.06 | 0.7% | 20 |
| Suspension | 0.04 | 0.5% | 14 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.04 | 0.4% | 13 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.03 | 0.3% | 10 |
| Brakes | 0.02 | 0.3% | 8 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.01 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Steering | 0.01 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Visibility | 0.01 | 0.1% | 2 |
Mileage Statistics
Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.
About This Data
The 1996 Mercedes C 280 has an MOT pass rate of 65.3% based on 2,976 tests — slightly above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 111,131 miles on the odometer. With a 34.7% failure rate, the 1996 C 280 is rated as "Good" for MOT reliability.
If you own or are considering buying a 1996 Mercedes C 280, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to tyres: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating. With an average mileage of 111,131 miles, these vehicles are in the higher-mileage bracket where wear-related failures become more common.
Tyres — 0.7% of failures
Tyres issues account for 0.7% of MOT failures on 1996 Mercedes C 280 models. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Suspension — 0.5% of failures
Suspension issues account for 0.5% of MOT failures on 1996 Mercedes C 280 models. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 0.4% of failures
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 0.4% of MOT failures on 1996 Mercedes C 280 models. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.