1996 Mercedes C 36 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

71.7%

Latest Pass Rate

524

Total Tests (All Years)

116,024 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for C 36

Compared to Average at Age 20

This car: 71.7%

Average: 56.6%

✅ 15.1% above average (6824 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1996 Mercedes C 36 as it ages.

13 yrs55.8%

→ ↑7.2%

14 yrs63.0%

→ ↑4.6%

15 yrs67.6%

→ ↑1.8%

16 yrs69.4%

→ ↓3.3%

17 yrs66.1%

→ ↑6.1%

18 yrs72.2%

→ ↓0.5%

19 yrs71.7%

→ ↓0.0%

20 yrs71.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	55.8%	95
14 yrs	63.0%	81
15 yrs	67.6%	74
16 yrs	69.4%	62
17 yrs	66.1%	59
18 yrs	72.2%	54
19 yrs	71.7%	53
20 yrs	71.7%	46

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 Mercedes C 36 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (20 yrs)	71.7%	46
2015 (19 yrs)	71.7%	53
2014 (18 yrs)	72.2%	54
2013 (17 yrs)	66.1%	59
2012 (16 yrs)	69.4%	62
2011 (15 yrs)	67.6%	74
2010 (14 yrs)	63%	81
2009 (13 yrs)	55.8%	95

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

55.8%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 95Avg Mileage 107,841Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.2%

2010High Fail Rate

63.0%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 81Avg Mileage 108,793Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.2%

2011

67.6%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 74Avg Mileage 109,779Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.3%

2012

69.4%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 62Avg Mileage 114,077Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.2%

2013

66.1%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 59Avg Mileage 113,520Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 64.4%

2014

72.2%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 54Avg Mileage 111,939Top Failure Brakes — 53.7%

2015

71.7%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 53Avg Mileage 112,318Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.5%

2016

71.7%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 46Avg Mileage 116,024Top Failure Brakes — 47.8%

MOT results for 1996 Mercedes C 36 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	55.8%	95	107,841	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.2%
2010	14	63.0%	81	108,793	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.2%
2011	15	67.6%	74	109,779	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.3%
2012	16	69.4%	62	114,077	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.2%
2013	17	66.1%	59	113,520	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 64.4%
2014	18	72.2%	54	111,939	Brakes — 53.7%
2015	19	71.7%	53	112,318	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.5%
2016	20	71.7%	46	116,024	Brakes — 47.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 Mercedes C 36, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

31.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

30.3%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

20.2%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

19.3%

— Consistent

Steering

15.2%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	18.9% (13 yrs)	47.8% (20 yrs)	+28.9%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	13.7% (13 yrs)	28.3% (20 yrs)	+14.6%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	23.2% (13 yrs)	17.4% (20 yrs)	-5.8%	🟢 ↓
Tyres	16.8% (13 yrs)	17.4% (20 yrs)	+0.6%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1995 1996 1997

← Back to Mercedes C 36 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes C 36 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes C 36 cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 524 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.