1997 Mercedes C 36 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

63.9%

Latest Pass Rate

387

Total Tests (All Years)

142,401 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 19

This car: 63.9%

Average: 55.4%

✅ 8.5% above average (7550 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Mercedes C 36 as it ages.

12 yrs65.0%

→ ↑4.5%

13 yrs69.5%

→ ↓0.9%

14 yrs68.6%

→ ↓9.3%

15 yrs59.3%

→ ↑13.9%

16 yrs73.2%

→ ↓7.3%

17 yrs65.9%

→ ↑19.1%

18 yrs85.0%

→ ↓21.1%

19 yrs63.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	65.0%	60
13 yrs	69.5%	59
14 yrs	68.6%	51
15 yrs	59.3%	59
16 yrs	73.2%	41
17 yrs	65.9%	41
18 yrs	85.0%	40
19 yrs	63.9%	36

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes C 36 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (19 yrs)	63.9%	36
2015 (18 yrs)	85%	40
2014 (17 yrs)	65.9%	41
2013 (16 yrs)	73.2%	41
2012 (15 yrs)	59.3%	59
2011 (14 yrs)	68.6%	51
2010 (13 yrs)	69.5%	59
2009 (12 yrs)	65%	60

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

65.0%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 60Avg Mileage 116,311Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.3%

2010

69.5%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 59Avg Mileage 125,019Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.6%

2011

68.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 51Avg Mileage 122,406Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.7%

2012High Fail Rate

59.3%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 59Avg Mileage 135,984Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.4%

2013

73.2%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 41Avg Mileage 128,452Top Failure Brakes — 53.7%

2014

65.9%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 41Avg Mileage 144,414Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.7%

2015

85.0%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 40Avg Mileage 141,089Top Failure Brakes — 25.0%

2016High Fail Rate

63.9%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 36Avg Mileage 142,401Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 52.8%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes C 36 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	65.0%	60	116,311	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.3%
2010	13	69.5%	59	125,019	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.6%
2011	14	68.6%	51	122,406	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.7%
2012	15	59.3%	59	135,984	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.4%
2013	16	73.2%	41	128,452	Brakes — 53.7%
2014	17	65.9%	41	144,414	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.7%
2015	18	85.0%	40	141,089	Brakes — 25.0%
2016	19	63.9%	36	142,401	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 52.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes C 36, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

27.7%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

26.2%

— Consistent

Suspension

20.7%

↑ Increases with age

Steering

16.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Tyres

13.6%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	18.3% (12 yrs)	52.8% (19 yrs)	+34.5%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	16.7% (12 yrs)	36.1% (19 yrs)	+19.4%	🔴 ↑
Driver's View of the Road	8.3% (12 yrs)	13.9% (19 yrs)	+5.6%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	16.7% (12 yrs)	16.7% (19 yrs)	0.0%	⚪ —

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 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 387 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.