Mercedes Estate MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 302 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 36.1%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Mercedes Estate MOT Reliability Overview
The Mercedes Estate is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 302 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 63.9% and a failure rate of 36.1%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Mercedes Estate earns a "Average" reliability rating. The average Mercedes Estate presents for MOT with approximately 118,521 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2006 models achieve the highest pass rate at 87.0%, while 2003 models have the lowest at 50.0%. This 37.0 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Mercedes Estate is Suspension, affecting 45.7% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Brakes at 27.8%. Tyres rounds out the top three at 19.2%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 55.3% | 167 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.1% | 97 |
| 3 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 29.8% | 90 |
| 4 | Tyres | 24.8% | 75 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.3% | 19 |
| 6 | Driver's View Of The Road | 6.0% | 18 |
| 7 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 4.0% | 12 |
| 8 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 3.0% | 9 |
| 9 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 2.6% | 8 |
| 10 | Registration Plates And Vin | 2.6% | 8 |
| 11 | Body, Structure And General Items | 2.6% | 8 |
| 12 | Road Wheels | 1.7% | 5 |
| 13 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 1.3% | 4 |
| 14 | Visibility | 1.3% | 4 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 118,521 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.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 4.67 | 55.3% | 167 |
| Brakes | 2.71 | 32.1% | 97 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 2.51 | 29.8% | 90 |
| Tyres | 2.10 | 24.8% | 75 |
| Visibility | 0.61 | 7.3% | 22 |
| Steering | 0.53 | 6.3% | 19 |
| Body & Structure | 0.44 | 5.2% | 16 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.34 | 4.0% | 12 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.25 | 3.0% | 9 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.22 | 2.6% | 8 |
| Wheels | 0.14 | 1.7% | 5 |
| Seat Belts | 0.11 | 1.3% | 4 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Mercedes Estate has 118,521 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Mercedes Estate has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 3.05% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Mercedes Estate MOT Data
The Mercedes Estate is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 302 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 63.9% and a failure rate of 36.1%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Mercedes Estate owners, these results suggest average reliability — some preparation before MOT can improve pass chances. Focus your pre-MOT checks on suspension and brakes for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Estate is likely to perform.
Suspension — 45.7% of failures
Suspension issues account for 45.7% of MOT failures on the Mercedes Estate. 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.
Brakes — 27.8% of failures
Brakes issues account for 27.8% of MOT failures on the Mercedes Estate. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Tyres — 19.2% of failures
Tyres issues account for 19.2% of MOT failures on the Mercedes Estate. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes Estate?
Based on 302 MOT tests in our database, the Mercedes Estate has an overall pass rate of 63.9% (36.1% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mercedes Estate?
The top 3 reasons a Mercedes Estate fails its MOT are: 1. Suspension (45.7%), 2. Brakes (27.8%), 3. Tyres (19.2%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Mercedes Estate reliable?
With a 36.1% MOT failure rate, the Estate is about average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Mercedes Estate?
Based on failure data, focus on: Suspension (45.7%); Brakes (27.8%); Tyres (19.2%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.