1997 Mercedes C 280 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

80.4%

Latest Pass Rate

2,503

Total Tests (All Years)

116,565 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 280 as it ages.

12 yrs62.8%

→ ↑4.3%

13 yrs67.1%

→ ↓6.6%

14 yrs60.5%

→ ↑3.6%

15 yrs64.1%

→ ↓0.1%

16 yrs64.0%

→ ↓0.6%

17 yrs63.4%

→ ↑0.8%

18 yrs64.2%

→ ↑1.4%

19 yrs65.6%

→ ↑4.3%

20 yrs69.9%

→ ↑0.7%

21 yrs70.6%

→ ↓0.9%

22 yrs69.7%

→ ↑10.7%

23 yrs80.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	62.8%	414
13 yrs	67.1%	380
14 yrs	60.5%	349
15 yrs	64.1%	287
16 yrs	64.0%	236
17 yrs	63.4%	202
18 yrs	64.2%	173
19 yrs	65.6%	154
20 yrs	69.9%	123
21 yrs	70.6%	68
22 yrs	69.7%	66
23 yrs	80.4%	51

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes C 280 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (23 yrs)	80.4%	51
2019 (22 yrs)	69.7%	66
2018 (21 yrs)	70.6%	68
2017 (20 yrs)	69.9%	123
2016 (19 yrs)	65.6%	154
2015 (18 yrs)	64.2%	173
2014 (17 yrs)	63.4%	202
2013 (16 yrs)	64%	236
2012 (15 yrs)	64.1%	287
2011 (14 yrs)	60.5%	349
2010 (13 yrs)	67.1%	380
2009 (12 yrs)	62.8%	414

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

62.8%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 414Avg Mileage 107,505Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.0%

2010

67.1%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 380Avg Mileage 111,893Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.5%

2011High Fail Rate

60.5%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 349Avg Mileage 112,427Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.9%

2012High Fail Rate

64.1%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 287Avg Mileage 114,388Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.6%

2013High Fail Rate

64.0%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 236Avg Mileage 115,489Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 42.8%

2014High Fail Rate

63.4%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 202Avg Mileage 119,793Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 54.0%

2015High Fail Rate

64.2%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 173Avg Mileage 122,149Top Failure Brakes — 43.4%

2016

65.6%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 154Avg Mileage 116,925Top Failure Brakes — 40.9%

2017

69.9%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 123Avg Mileage 117,945Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.9%

2018

70.6%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 68Avg Mileage 118,910Top Failure Suspension — 75.0%

2019

69.7%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 66Avg Mileage 111,131Top Failure Suspension — 43.9%

2020

80.4%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 51Avg Mileage 116,565Top Failure Suspension — 43.1%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes C 280 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	62.8%	414	107,505	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.0%
2010	13	67.1%	380	111,893	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.5%
2011	14	60.5%	349	112,427	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.9%
2012	15	64.1%	287	114,388	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.6%
2013	16	64.0%	236	115,489	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 42.8%
2014	17	63.4%	202	119,793	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 54.0%
2015	18	64.2%	173	122,149	Brakes — 43.4%
2016	19	65.6%	154	116,925	Brakes — 40.9%
2017	20	69.9%	123	117,945	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.9%
2018	21	70.6%	68	118,910	Suspension — 75.0%
2019	22	69.7%	66	111,131	Suspension — 43.9%
2020	23	80.4%	51	116,565	Suspension — 43.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes C 280, with age trends.

Suspension

32.7%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

31.4%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

30.2%

— Consistent

Noise, emissions and leaks

23.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Tyres

19.7%

↑ 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
Suspension	12.6% (12 yrs)	43.1% (23 yrs)	+30.5%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	13.5% (12 yrs)	21.6% (23 yrs)	+8.1%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	15.0% (12 yrs)	17.6% (23 yrs)	+2.6%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

← Back to Mercedes C 280 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes C 280 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes C 280 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 2,503 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.